The track and field events have kicked off at the 2023 Pan American Games, and so has America’s medal hunt. The American team is already on a roll in the event in Chile. As of now, they are sitting pretty at the top of the medal table with 178 medals. With the count that includes 76 golds, barely any team is visible close to the USA. After a successful campaign in various sports, it was time for Team USA to set the tracks on fire.

Two dynamic US athletes have successfully made the first strike for American track and field fans, furthering the medal hunt. A latest social media upload showcased the first shining medals won by the US athletes, as they leap atop the podium in Santiago.

Track and field stars secure top positions in a jiffy

Kasey Knevelbaard and Ryan Talbot have earned the US its first track prizes in the 2023 Pan Am Games. Knevelbaard is a 27-year-old distance runner while Talbot is a 23-year-old decathlete. USATF tweeted and broke the news of the American triumph via its official X handle.

The tweet carried the caption, “Kasey Knevelbaard won Team USA’s first gold of #Santiago2023 with a 14:47.69 in the 5,000 gold medal. Ryan Talbot made big moves on day two of the decathlon to tally 7742 and finish with a bronze medal.” While a gold medal to begin the campaign was good news, the addition of a bronze is even more reason to celebrate. The duo registered excellent performances and paved the way for more medals to come home. Interestingly, Knevelbaard and Talbot didn’t know they would be competing in the Pan American Games. In fact, they only found out about their ticket to Santiago a few months ago.

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Rising American athletes compete in Santiago despite a long season

After the Eugene Diamond League, a majority of the elite athletes of all nations are on vacation. This has paved the way for several lesser-known athletes to make their mark and play for their national flag. However, temperatures in Santiago during this time of the year are very cold. Despite this, every athlete is giving their all and competing on the big international stage given to them. While Talbot was called for the Pan Am Games a few months ago, Knevelbaard didn’t know he’d be competing till the middle of September. 

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Speaking about it, Knevelbaard said, “It’s challenging, but I don’t want to be someone who’s afraid of not doing anything. You don’t want to miss out on opportunities.” Echoing his words, Talbot said, “Not a lot of people are wanting to do it. So it gives a good chance for a lot of people who are coming up in the sport to experience a big stage like this, especially in track and field and especially for the decathlon.” The two athletes have set the tone right for the USA’s athletics campaign in Chile. With four more days to go into the event, it will be interesting to watch how far the golden run of the USA stretches.

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