SAO PAULO, Brazil — After being crowned U.S. Junior champion in the 800-meter run two weeks ago, LSU freshman LaTavia Thomas struck gold again Saturday by claiming top honors in the event at the 2007 Pan American Junior Championships.
Thomas crossed the finish line nearly one second ahead of Canadian standout Jessica Smith after clocking a time of 2 minutes, 6.59 seconds in Saturday’s final. Smith took home the silver medal with a time of 2:07.27, while fellow Canadian Sheila Reid won bronze in 2:08.13.
Thomas adds to her already impressive resume as an 800-meter runner as she became the first athlete in seven years to sweep Southeastern Conference indoor and outdoor titles in just her first season with the Lady Tigers. She was also crowned U.S. Junior champion in the event at the 2007 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 22.
Fellow freshman Jamaal James just missed winning a gold medal of his own in the 800 meters as he captured the silver for his native Trinidad and Tobago with a time of 1:48.87. James finished a split-second behind gold medalist Andrew Heaney of Canada (1:48.52).
James, who also swept SEC indoor and outdoor titles during the 2007 campaign, qualified for Saturday’s final with the fastest preliminary time on Friday at 1:49.75. He earned his first career All-America honor as a freshman with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
The future of the Lady Tiger program was also on display Saturday as signee Kenyanna Wilson helped lead the United States to a gold medal by running the leadoff leg on the 4×100-meter relay team that carried the stick around the track in 43.71 seconds. The Peoria, Ariz., native also placed sixth in the 100-meter dash on Friday after clocking a 11.58 in the final.