UF T&F: Leiseth, Pantojas advance on Day One of World Athletics U20 Championships

Incoming Freshman Gabrielle Schmidt set a new personal best in the women’s 5000m final.

LIMA, Peru – Six of the nine Florida Gators in Lima, Peru for the World Athletics U20 championships were in action on Tuesday, with two athletes advancing past their first rounds, and one athlete setting a new personal best.

Gracelyn Leiseth, the U.S. U20 Champion in the Shot put and Discus, competed in the latter on day one, managing to advance to the Discus Final tomorrow. Her best throw of 49.79m was enough to net her a spot in the top 12 scores, and qualified her for the Discus final at 5:28 p.m. ET tomorrow.

Gator Sophomore Miguel Pantojas competed in the 800m, posting a 1:50.75 time in heat 6, which was good for fifth place in his heat. In the heats, the top-three finishers and next six fastest times qualified for the Semifinals, and Pantojas’ time was good enough to sneak him into the final, sixth-fastest spot. The Men’s 800m Semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, August 29.

Gabrielle Schmidt, the Freshman out of Australia, Finished seventh in the Women’s 5000m Final on Tuesday evening. Her 16:10.87 time marked a new personal best. Schmidt is also slated to compete in the 3000m, beginning with heats on August 29.

Other incoming freshmen delivered strong performances as well. Jaden Wiley posted a 10.59 mark in the 100m, good for third in his heat, while Abigail Elmore earned 3093 points through the first four events of the Heptathlon.

WORLD ATHLETICS U20 CHAMPIONSHIPS
DAY ONE RESULTS
Heptathlon: Abigail Elmore
10:17 a.m. – 100mH Heat 3 – 14.85, 862 pts
11:07 a.m. – High Jump group A – 1.69m, 842 pts
5:05 p.m. – Shot Put – 11.91m, 655 pts
7:25 p.m. – 200m – 26.73, 734 pts

M 100m – Heats
12:18 p.m. – Jaden Wiley, Heat 4 – 3rd in Heat, 10.59

W Discus Throw – Qualification
12:45 p.m. – Gracelyn Leiseth, Group A – 49.79m, Qualified for Final

M 800m – Heats
1:40 p.m. – Miguel Pantojas, Heat 6 – 5th in heat, 1:50.75, Qualified for Semifinals

W 800m – Heats
2:03 p.m. – Layla Haynes, Heat 2 – 6th in heat, 2:08.93

W 5000m – Final
7:25 p.m. – Gabrielle Schmidt – 7th, 16:10.87, Personal Best

DAY TWO SCHEDULE:
Heptathlon: Abigail Elmore – USA
10:35 a.m. – Long Jump
1:04 p.m. – Javelin
7:10 p.m. – 800m

Men’s 400mH – Heats
11:05 a.m. – Vance Nilsson – USA

Women’s Triple Jump – Qualification
12:50 p.m. – Asia Phillips – Canada

Women’s Discus Throw – Final
5:28 p.m. – Gracelyn Leiseth – USA