U.S. Divers Win Three Medals on Day Two of Junior Pan American Games
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Junior Pan American Games Women's 10-Meter Medalists: Gold, ElliReese Niday (USA); Silver, Hannah McLaughlin (USA); Bronze, Katelyn Fung (CAN)
ElliReese Niday won gold and Hannah McLaughlin took silver as the United States claimed the top two spots in Sunday’s women’s 10-meter final at the Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay. Collier Dyer and Luke Hernandez also paired up to give the U.S. a bronze medal in Sunday’s men’s synchronized 3-meter event.
Niday scored 360.10 points to claim the 10-meter gold, while McLaughlin finished with 314.40 points for silver. Canada’s Katelyn Fung took bronze at 311.10.
The 13-year-old Niday and 14-year-old McLaughlin were the two youngest divers in the 10-meter competition.
Niday scored more than 70 points on four of her five dives and led the entire contest. She opened with a back 2 ½ with 1 ½ twists for 76.80 points and finished with 75.20 points on an armstand double back somersault with 1 ½ twists. With her gold medal, Niday qualified to compete in the 2027 Pan American Games.
While Niday was in the gold-medal position through all five rounds, McLaughlin rallied to earn her spot on the podium. In sixth place after three rounds, she came through with 72.80 points on a reverse 2 ½ tuck in round four to move up to second place. She closed out her list with 67.50 points on a front 3 ½ pike to maintain the silver medal spot.
Dyer and Hernandez paired up for the first time and finished with 346.29 points for the 3-meter synchro bronze medal. Mexico’s David Vazquez and Jesus Agundez won gold with 409.29 points, while the Colombian duo of Tomas Tamayo and Miguel Tovar scored 357.84 points for silver.
Also on Sunday, the U.S. qualified four divers into finals later in the week. Sophie Verzyl finished second with 271.95 points in the women’s 3-meter preliminary to advance to Tuesday’s final, while Anna Kwong scored 248.70 to qualify in third place. Verzyl and Kwong paired for silver in synchronized 3-meter on Saturday. In men’s 10-meter preliminary competition, Drew Bennett finished eighth with 320.85 points to advance to Monday’s 10-meter final, where he’ll be joined by Grant Cates, who qualified in 10th place with 294.95 points.
The Junior Pan American Games are a multi-sport event featuring more than 4,000 athletes from 41 countries in 28 sports. Divers must be 22 or younger to participate.
Diving competition at the Junior Pan American Games continues through Tuesday. Monday’s schedule includes preliminaries and finals in women’s 1-meter, along with the men’s 3-meter preliminary and the men’s 10-meter final
Junior Pan Am Games - Day Two of Diving#
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