This weekend, there was no shortage of elite athletes in San José, Costa Rica for the Pan-American U20 Championships. The United States had the largest group of athletes to qualify. In that large group were two athletes from one of the largest states in the country. Both athletes happened to have even more in common, they were both from the same city/town.
Otito Ogbonnia and Heidi Nielson are both from Katy, Texas and repped the red, white, and blue this weekend in their respective events.
However, they weren't the only Katy residents who was in Costa Rica to compete as some of the best youth athletes in the world. Daniella Munoz, also form Katy was there as well to compete as she represented the country of Peru.
Ogbonnia even brought home a medal in his event, and it was the best kind - Gold. He won the shot put with a throw of 20.72m (67-11.75). The upcoming UCLA sophomore had a very good freshman year at UCLA where the two sport star (football and Track and Field) won the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships before heading out to Costa Rica.
He was tied for the lead with fellow American Joshua Sobota at 20.56m after his second throw when he took lead on next to last toss. He passed on his last throw after securing the win.
The Katy Taylor graduate won both the shot put and discus at the UIL 6A State Track and Field Championships as a senior in 2018.
Katy Cinco Ranch sophomore Heidi Nielson was fifth in the Women's 5,000m yesterday. Nielson was one of the favorites heading into the competition as she entered with a persona best time of 16:54.02 that she ran just last month at USATF U20 Outdoor Championships to qualify for Pan-Ams.
Her time of 18:15.38 was unable to land her on the award stand as it was a performance far from Nielson's best outings. Last year, she won the New Balance Nationals Outdoor with a 16:55.76. In fact, her top two times could have easily won her the gold medal this weekend.
Not only is Nielson one of the top distance runners on the track, but she is also potent on the cross country course. With a time of 21:31in the 6,000, at USATF Cross Country Championships she was able to qualify for the USA World Youth XC team.
Daniella Munoz is another Katy Cinco Ranch star athlete. The senior to be was one of Texas' top high jumpers all season long. She collected a Texas Relays 3rd place finish and UIL 6A 4th place finish this spring.
The Peruvian athlete turned in a 10th place last night in the high jump going 1.60 (5-3), which was a bit away from her 5-8.5 PR from this season.
Munoz has a lot of national experience from the last couple of years can now add this international experience to her resume. The 17 year old has three more years to shoot for a high jump gold medal at the international level.
The quiet town of Katy, Texas made a lot of noise across the world thanks to these there young athletes
