* Sophia Beckmon won the NACAC U23 long jump title on Saturday
Photo Credit: Fanta Mithmeuangnueua
- - -
Two of the nation's brightest high school talents from Oregon claimed NACAC U23 Championship titles this weekend.
Few would have been surprised by the results.
On Friday inside Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica, Lake Oswego rising senior Mia Brahe-Pedersen ripped off her first outright international win in a U.S. jersey, claiming the 100 meter title in 11.08 (+0.7) seconds.
The performance marked her seventh time this season that she's gone under a wind-legal 11.10 second time. She ran 11.01 in the semifinal on Friday morning, though the wind gauge hit a marker of 5.5 meters per second.
The following day, Oregon City graduate Sophia Beckmon added one more, claiming an international win in the U23 long jump with an all conditions mark of 6.69 meters (21 feet, 11.5 inches). The wind was 2.7 meters per second.
That effort was just her second jump ever over 21 feet, 10 inches.
Hana Moll, the national-record holding pole vaulter who finished third at USA Outdoors earlier this month, failed to clear a bar on Friday. She came into the competition at 4.25m (13-11.5), but came up short on all three attempts.
The NACAC U23 Championships features 23 nationals from North America and and Central America. The United States contingent brought a total of 62 athletes to the competition, trailing only Jamaica, which brought 69.
A total of 442 athletes are competing this weekend in San Jose. The United States currently leads all nations with 21 medals, including 12 golds. Bahamian athletes have picked up five golds, while Jamaican athletes have earned four.
One more session remains on Sunday.
Massachusetts-area runner Ellie Shea will compete in the women's 1,500m on Sunday.
Related Links:
NACAC U23 Championship results