July 11, 2010
MIRAMAR, Florida - Texas A&M sprinter Curtis Mitchell won his second gold medal at the North American, Central American, and Caribbean Under-23 Championships by posting a 20.06 victory in the 200 meters on Sunday.
Trailing U.S. teammate Brandon Byram and Jamaica's Rasheed Dwyer as the field finished the curve, Mitchell powered to the lead in the homestretch. Then he pulled away from the field in the final 50 meters to win convincingly over Byram, who claimed silver in 20.46. Dwyer finished third in 20.64 as the race had an aiding wind of 2.8.
In the 200m semifinal on Saturday Mitchell ran a career best of 19.99 to break the meet record of 20.34 set by Evander Wells in 2008.
Aggie junior Demetrius Pinder attained a silver medal in the final event of the NACAC U-23 meet. Pinder ran the second leg for the Bahamas 4 x 400 relay that finished second in 3:02.91. The United States won the 4 x 400 in a world-leading time of 2:58.83.
Four Texas A&M athletes earned seven medals over the weekend. Four were gold - two each by Curtis Mitchell and Ashika Charan and Pinder each claimed silver medals and Pinder also had a bronze.
NACAC U-23 CHAMPSIONSHIPS
Medals claimed by Texas A&M athletes
Gold (4)
Curtis Mitchell - 200 meters, 4 x 100 relay
Jeneba Tarmoh - 100 meters, 4 x 100 relay
Silver (2)
Ashika Charan - triple jump
Demetrius Pinder - 4 x 400 relay
Bronze (1)
Demetrius Pinder - 400 meters