Niday Sweeps 11&U Events as USA Closes Out Jr Pan Ams with Six More Medals

ElliReese Niday swept her age group with a third gold and Amir Owens also won gold as the Junior Pan American Diving Championships wrapped up Saturday in Lima, Peru. The U.S. won three silver and one bronze on the final day of competition and finished the meet with 25 medals (11 gold, eight silver and six bronze).

Niday completed the 11-and-under girls’ sweep with 243.70 points to take gold in the platform competition on Saturday after winning 1-meter and 3-meter earlier in the week. Katherine Mo finished seventh on platform with 179.10 points.

Owens came away with gold in a close boys’ 11-and-under 1-meter competition. Owens finished with 211.95 points, good for a 1.75-point lead over silver medalist Nicolas Londono of Colombia. Noah Lieberman scored 169.50 points for fifth.

Cristiano Garcia won his third medal of the week with a 1-meter silver in boys’ 12-13 competition. He won gold on 3-meter and took second on platform earlier. Garcia scored 292.35 on 1-meter to finish second behind Mexico’s Ian Nava, who won gold at 321.80. USA’s Nathan Piotrowski was sixth with 253.95 points.

Joshua Hedberg earned a spot on the podium after finishing second in the boys’ 16-18 platform contest. Hedberg scored 499.25 points for silver, with gold going to Mexico’s Emilio Trevino at 551.90. USA’s Jake Welsh was ninth with 368.40 points.

Ella Roselli and Avery Giese paired together for silver in 14-18 girls’ synchronized 3-meter. They scored 240.60 to finish second behind Mexico.

Hannah McLaughlin won her second bronze of the week after scoring 264.85 points to finish third in the 12-13 girls’ 3-meter contest. Mexico’s Mia Cueva won gold at 313.55. USA’s Sophia Narbut scored 251.50 for fifth place.

In boys’ 14-15 3-meter action, Mik Schwickert scored 410.65 points for fourth and Leyton Dean finished seventh at 321.10. Canada’s Arnaud Corbeil took the gold with 437.80 points.

The U.S. finished second behind Mexico in the overall team standings.

Competition in Peru now shifts to high diving, with five U.S. high divers set to compete in the Junior Pan American High Diving Championships on Sunday.