Kayla Davis has done it again. The superstar high school freshman who trains with Run U Xpress has won the U20 Pan American 400m Gold Medal.
Davis won the US U20 National Championship in the event back in late June where the top 2 advanced to the Pan American U20 Games in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The Pan American Games consists of athletes from over 30 countries from North and South America.
Davis is likely one of the youngest athletes competing at the meet as the meet mainly consist of college freshman and high school seniors.
The event was on Day 1 of 3 of the Pan American Games with the Prelims in the morning session and the Finals in the afternoon session.
Davis advanced to the finals with ease yesterday morning with a 52.27 winning her heat as the second fastest overall qualifier behind Team USA teammate Alexis Holmes who runs for the University of Kentucky.
6 girls broke 53 seconds in the prelims confirming that the final was going to have to be a fast one if the 15 year old Davis was going to take the win.
Milagros Duran Garcia of the Dominican Republic took the race out hard in lane 8 as Davis would be even with her through the first 200m. On the turn Davis began to move into the lead, but Holmes was closing the gap on her inside.
The Americans sat 1-2 with 100m to go with Davis out front. She'd hold off the challenge from Holmes and pull ahead to claim the Pan American U20 400m Gold Medal. Davis would clock 51.61, her third time under 52 seconds this outdoor season. Holmes would run 52.59 for 2nd as Doneisha Anderson of the Bahamas would take 3rd in 53.23.
This is Davis' first time representing Team USA. She'll have three more years to represent the United States Junior Team. She will likely have chances as early as next summer at the US Olympic Trials to represent the Senior Team on the global stage.
