Eight Aggies set to compete in track & field at Pan American Games

TORONTO – A crew of eight Aggies representing five countries will be participating in the track and field portion of the 17^th Pan American Games starting on Tuesday, July 21 at York University and running through Saturday, July 25.
 
Five current members of the Texas A&M team and three former members will be in action as they compete for the United States, Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago.
 
Coverage of the meet will be available on ESPN2 as well as online via ESPN3. Following is a schedule of coverage times.
 
                   Tuesday, July 21                           9 a.m. (CT) ESPN3, 5 p.m. ESPN3, 6 p.m. ESPN2
                   Wednesday, July 22                     9 a.m. ESPN3, 5 p.m. ESPN3, 6 p.m. ESPN2
                   Thursday, July 23                         9 a.m. ESPN3, 4:30 p.m. ESPN3
                   Friday, July 24                               9 a.m. ESPN3, 4:30 p.m. ESPN3, 5 p.m. ESPN2
                   Saturday, July 25                          3:30 p.m. ESPN2, 5:30 p.m. ESPN3
 
Shamier Little, the current world leader in the 400 hurdles with her school record time of 53.74, enters the meet as the U.S. champion and a two-time NCAA title holder. The semifinals of the 400 hurdles are set for Tuesday, July 21, with the finals held on Wednesday, July 22. Little is also part of the Team USA relay pool for the 4x400.
 
Shavez Hart, who successfully defended his 100 and 200 meter titles at the national championships in the Bahamas, will compete in both events at the Pan Am Games along with the 4x100 relay. Hart has set personal best times of 10.10 and 20.23 this season.
 
Also competing for the Bahamas is Latario Collie, who claimed the national triple jump title after placing second in the NCAA Championships. Collie broke the A&M school record in the triple jump with a mark of 56-4 ½ (17.18) and produced an Aggie all-time best, under all conditions, of 56-7 ¼ (17.18) this season.
 
The trio of Kanika Beckles, Bralon Taplin and Lindon Victor will represent Grenada in the Pan Am Games. Beckles will compete in the women's 200, Taplin races in the men's 400 and Victor is in the decathlon.
 
Janielle Bellille, who set the national record in the 400 meters last year for Trinidad & Tobago, will race in that event as well as the 4x400 relay.
 
Simone Facey represents Jamaica in the sprints and will be part of the 4x100 relay pool. Facey recently swept the 100 and 200 at the Edmonton Track Classic with season times of 11.10 and 22.55. Earlier this season Facey ran the first leg of Jamaica's 4x100 as they set a world-leading time of 42.14 for 2015 to claim first place at the IAAF World Relays.
 
Track & Field – Pan American Games, Toronto, Canada
Athlete                    Country                          Events                     Competition dates
Kanika Beckles       Grenada                          200                           July 23 – prelims, semi; July 24 – final
Janiel Bellille           Trinidad & Tobago        400, 4x400              400: July 22 – semi; July 23 – final
                                                                                                             4x400: July 24 – semi;
Latario Collie          Bahamas                         Triple jump              July 24 – final
Simone Facey         Jamaica                           100, 200, 4x100     100: July 21 – prelims; July 22 – semi, final
                                                                                                             200: July 23 – prelims, semi; July 24 – final
                                                                                                             4x100: July 24 – semi;
Shavez Hart            Bahamas                         100, 200, 4x100     100: July 21 – prelims; July 22 – semi, final
                                                                                                             200: July 23 – prelims, semi; July 24 – final
                                                                                                             4x100: July 24 – semi; July 25 – final
Shamier Little         United States                 400H, 4x400           400H: July 21 – semi; July 22 – final
                                                                                                             4x400: July 24 – semi; July 25 – final
Bralon Taplin          Grenada                          400                           July 22 – semi; July 23 – final
Lindon Victor          Grenada                          Decathlon               July 22 & July 23