TORONTO – Texas A&M sophomore Shamier Little earned a second gold medal at the Pan American Games during the final day of track and field at York University on Saturday as she ran the opening leg of the winning 4×400 relay effort by the United States.
In the 4×100 relay Aggie grad Simone Facey added a silver medal to her individual bronze as she anchored Jamaica to a runner-up finish behind the Americans.
With Little producing a lead-off leg split of 50.83 seconds, the fastest among the U.S. foursome, the remaining order of Kyra Jefferson (51.52), Shakima Wimbley (51.07) and Kendall Baisden (52.26) cruised to a 3:25.68 victory unchallenged.
Jamaica placed second in 3:27.27 with Canada third at 3:27.74. Two-time defending champion Cuba placed fourth in 3:31.22. A&M grad Janeil Bellille ran the opening leg for Trinidad & Tobago, who placed seventh in 3:33.31.
This was the first United States victory in the women’s 4×400 at the Pan Am Games since 2003 and the seventh USA victory since the event was first contested in 1971. The Americans time of 3:25.68 is the third fastest winning mark, trailing only a 3:23.35 (USA 1987) and 3:24.21 (USA 1991).
In addition to her relay gold medal, Little achieved an individual gold medal earlier this week in winning the 400 hurdles in 55.50. Little remains the current world leader in the event with her Aggie school record performance of 53.74 set in winning her second NCAA championship in June. She added a 53.83 clocking to capture the USATF Championship title two weeks later.
Facey challenged American anchor Kaylin Whitney all the way to the finish line of the 4×100 relay, where the United States posted a winning time of 42.58 with Jamaica a stride back in 42.68. The Americans broke the Pan Am Games record of 42.62 set by Jamaica in 1999.
Whitney and Facey also had a close race in the 200 meter final the previous day, where Whitney won in 22.65 and Facey finished third in 22.74.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics