Shea, 17, looks to follow team bronze at World Athletics U20 Cross Country Championships and 1,500-meter silver at NACAC U23 Championships when she competes in 1,500 and 3,000 in Puerto Rico; Georgia’s Jackson pursuing individual medal after earning 4x100 relay gold for U.S. in Costa Rica

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Ellie Shea has the unique opportunity to secure a third international medal for the United States this year, including her first gold at the Pan American Under-20 Championships, scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Jose A. Figueroa Freire Stadium in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

Shea, 17, representing Emerging Elites in Belmont, Mass., was a member of the U.S. women’s lineup that earned a team bronze medal in February at the World Athletics U20 Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia.

Shea then secured silver competing in the women’s 1,500-meter final July 23 at the NACAC Under-23 Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica.

She is expected to compete for the U.S. in both the 1,500 and 3,000 finals, the former scheduled for Friday and the latter Sunday.

Shea will be joined by fellow American athlete Audrey Allman, representing Vanderbilt, in the 1,500 final.

Zariel Macchia, an incoming junior at William Floyd High in New York, is also scheduled to represent the U.S. in the 3,000 championship race.

Georgia freshman sprinter Kaila Jackson also has an opportunity to earn a second medal this summer for the U.S. after contributing to the Americans capturing the 4x100 title July 22 at the NACAC U23 Championships in Costa Rica.

Jackson is entered in the women’s 100-meter dash, along with Texas A&M’s Camryn Dickson.

North Carolina freshman Blaise Atkinson is also seeking another medal after being part of the U.S. men’s 4x100 relay that earned bronze at the NACAC U23 Championships in Costa Rica.

Atkinson is scheduled to compete Saturday for the U.S. in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, in addition to Nathaniel Rayan of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High in New Jersey.

In addition to Shea and Allman competing Friday in a 1,500 race that also includes Isabel Conde de Frankenberg, an incoming senior at Cedar Park High in Texas representing Argentina, along with Jackson and Dickson racing in the 100, Friday’s schedule also includes a pair of Americans pulling double duty in the ring.

UCLA’s Michael Pinckney and Baylor’s Gary Moore, Jr. are entered in both the men’s hammer throw and shot put on the opening day of competition.

Heather Durrant of the Elgin Sharks, a recent graduate of Elgin High in Illinois who has committed to University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky, is scheduled to compete in the women’s 10,000-meter race walk, along with incoming senior Talia Green of College Prep School in Oakland, Calif.

Green competed last year for the U.S. at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Colombia.

Mensi Stiff, a recent graduate of Brentwood Academy in Tennessee and an Ole Miss commit, is competing in the shot put, along with Iowa’s Wisdom Williams.

Julia Tunks, a UCLA signee, is representing Canada.

Vanderbilt’s Giavonna Meeks and Skylar Soli, a recent graduate of Douglas County High in Georgia and an Ole Miss commit, are competing in the women’s hammer throw.

Avery Lewis, an incoming senior at Friends Central in Pennsylvania, and Morgan Davis – a recent graduate of Saraland High in Alabama and a Kentucky signee – are expected to participate in the women’s long jump.

Oregon’s Ben Balazs and Michigan’s Caleb Jarema are entered for the U.S. in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Bryce Tucker, a recent graduate of Pennsauken High and a Rutgers commit, along with Boston College’s Damon Frabotta are scheduled to race in the men’s 400-meter hurdles.

UCLA’s Yan Vazquez is competing in the event for host Puerto Rico.

Sanaa Hebron of Miami (Florida) and Vanderbilt’s Allyria McBride are participating in the women’s 400 hurdles, as well as New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion Michelle Smith, an incoming senior at Montverde Academy in Florida, representing the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Tyler Azcano, a Florida A&M signee, and San Jose State’s Cameron Tarver are entered in the men’s 100.

Texas A&M’s Jack Mann and Cody Johnston, a recent graduate of Hobart High in Indiana and an Illinois signee, are competing in the men’s pole vault.

The Americans are expected to have four athletes in the men’s 5,000, with Iowa’s William Ryan, Rutgers’ Liam Tilton, Notre Dame’s Ethan Coleman and Mt. San Antonio College’s Austin Ledgerwood, in addition to Brigham Young’s Alex Garcia Silver representing Colombia.

Aiden Carter, a recent graduate of Tigard High and an Oregon commit, begins the decathlon Friday, along with former IMG Academy of Florida graduate and future Ducks’ teammate Koby Kessler.

Ryan Allen of Shore Athletic Club in New Jersey and Clayton Stoil, a recent graduate of Langley High in Virginia, open Saturday’s competition for the U.S. in the men’s 10,000 race walk.

A pair of incoming high school seniors in Madeleine Fey from Midlothian in Texas and Hadley Lucas of Bloomington North in Indiana are entered in the women’s discus throw, along with Canada’s Julia Tunks.

Purdue’s Seth Allen and Brendon See, a recent JSerra High of California graduate and Oklahoma commit, are competing in the men’s discus throw.

Oregon’s Aaliyah McCormick and Myla Greene, a recent Bullis School of Maryland graduate and Tennessee signee, are entered in the women’s 100 hurdles.

Marcus Reilly, an incoming senior at Northbridge High in Massachusetts, is expected to be joined in the men’s 1,500 by fellow Americans and future Oregon teammates Simeon Birnbaum of South Dakota and Tayson Echohawk from Utah.

Cincinnati’s Lauren Ann Barnes and Kya Crooke, an incoming junior at Heritage Christian High in Indiana, are competing in the women’s high jump.

Ashton Torns, a recent graduate of Austin Westlake High in Texas and a Miami (Florida) commit, and incoming senior Juriad Hughes, Jr. of Irondale High in Minnesota are entered in the men’s long jump.

Brown’s Nimrit Ahuja and Texas’ Elizabeth Pickett are participating in the women’s 5,000.

USC’s Christine Mallard and Lauren Lewis, a recent graduate of Prosper High and a University of Texas commit, are expected to race in the women’s 400.

The men’s 400 has three athletes with Washington connections.

Jake Andrews, a Sehome High graduate and a USC signee, is representing the U.S., along with Lake Stevens High alumni Grant Buckmiller, in addition to Canada’s Will Floyd, representing Seattle Prep.

Floyd, a Stanford commit, is one of Canada’s 400 entries, along with Georgia’s Christopher Morales Williams.

JaiCieonna Gero-Holt, another Washington standout representing Emerald Ridge High, begins the women’s heptathlon Saturday for the U.S., in addition to incoming senior Abby Elmore of Gunter High in Texas.

Shea and Macchia begin Sunday’s scheduled for the Americans in the women’s 3,000 final, along with Boise State’s Kaiya Robertson representing Canada as well as incoming senior Charlotte Sinke from Calgary, Alberta.

Princeton’s Shea Greene and Evelyn Bliss, a recent graduate of Union-Alleghany Clarion Valley in Pennsylvania and a Bucknell commit, are entered in the women’s javelin throw.

Louisville’s Brion Stephens and Grant Campbell, a recent graduate of Heritage High and a Tennessee signee, are scheduled to compete in the men’s high jump.

Oklahoma’s Agur Dwol and Tennessee’s Suzan Ogunleye are participating in the women’s triple jump, along with NACAC U18 gold medalist and adidas indoor national champion Asia Phillips from Canada.

Virginia Tech’s Kenna Stimmel and Ella McRitchie, an incoming senior at Bainbridge High in Washington, are competing in the women’s pole vault.

Iowa’s Mike Stein and Florida International’s Blake Orr are expected to compete in the men’s javelin throw.

East Carolina’s Jared Harrell and Sterling Scott, a recent graduate of Starkville High in Mississippi and a Missouri commit, are representing the U.S. in the men’s triple jump.

Shawnti Jackson, a recent graduate of South Granville High in North Carolina and an Arkansas commit, and Elise Cooper – an incoming junior at McDonough School in Maryland – are scheduled to race in the women’s 200.

Nebraska’s Garrett Kaalund and San Jose State’s Cameron Tarver are entered in the men’s 200.

Sophia Gorriaran, a recent graduate of Moses Brown School in Rhode Island and a Harvard commit, and Ali Ince – an incoming senior at Normal Community High in Illinois – are expected to compete in the women’s 800, along with Argentina’s Isabel Conde de Frankenberg from Cedar Park High in Texas.

Daniel Watcke, a recent graduate of Hinsdale Central in Illinois and an Oregon commit, is participating in the men’s 800, in addition to Michigan’s Riley Flemington representing Canada.

Sydney Collier, an incoming junior at Skyline High in Washington, is entered in the women’s 3,000 steeplechase, along with William and Mary’s Catherine Garrison.