Courtesy of University at Albany Athletics
ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany will have representation at this year’s Pan American Games in Toronto. Sprinter Grace Claxton, who competed in the women’s 4x400-meter relay at the Central American Championships earlier this summer will compete again in the same event at the Pan American Games for her native Puerto Rico.
The Puerto Rican team competing this weekend is the same that placed first overall at the Central American Championships in 3:35.71. Claxton led off the squad with a split of 53 seconds. Her teammates include Olympic semifinalist Carol Rodriguez, ECAC 400-meter runner-up Pariis Garcia, and NCAA 800-meter fifth place finisher Alethia Marrero. Claxton expects to run the third leg on the relay this weekend.
Claxton has been training in Puerto Rico since returning from NCAA East Preliminary Championships at the end of May. The team left for Toronto on Saturday. The goal for the squad is to hit a world championship qualifying mark, which would fall within the top-eight times from the World Relays, plus the next eight fastest times overall.
“Grace’s training is going very well,” said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Roberto Vives. “She’s very conscientious about her preparation. They are working to make it to World Championships, but develop this team for the future as well.”
The women’s 4x400 competes during the morning section on Friday, July 24 in the semifinals. Should the team advance, the finals will be run on Saturday, July 25 during the evening session. The Puerto Rican squad is ranked seventh in the field. After Pan American Games the team may also compete at the North American, Central American, and Caribbean Games later in the summer, at which Vives will serve as a coach for Team USA.
The Pan American Games can be viewed on ESPN3.com.