Recent LSU transfer becomes first athlete in meet history to win twice in men's 110-meter hurdles; Stephen F. Austin vaulters Campbell, Ellis sweep gold medals for Americans, who also get wins from Boling, Bryant, Davis, Jones and Robinson

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Eric Edwards Jr. arrived at the Pan American U-20 Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica representing a new school for the first time in his collegiate career, following a recent transfer from Oregon to LSU.

But when it came time to perform in the men's 110-meter hurdles final, it was the same exceptional Edwards Jr., who overcame a sprained ankle to make history Friday at National Stadium.

Even on a day when the U.S. captured eight gold medals, including the explosiveness of Matthew Boling in the men's 100-meter dash, the clutch sixth-round performance of Claire Bryant in the women's long jump, the dominance of Jasmine Jones in the women's 100-meter hurdles, a pole vault sweep by Stephen F. Austin and what could be the first of many international 400 titles for 15-year-old Kayla Davis, it was Edwards Jr. who made the biggest statement of all the American champions.

Edwards Jr. became the first male athlete in meet history to win multiple gold medals in the 110 hurdles, clocking a wind-aided 13.11 seconds to add to his victory in 2017 in Peru. Kentucky freshman Tai Brown placed second in 13.36.

It marked the third straight title and 14th overall in the event for the U.S., which swept the top two spots for the seventh time in meet history.

Edwards Jr. elevated to the No. 3 all-time American U-20 performer under all conditions racing over the 39-inch hurdles.

Jones, a junior at Greater Atlanta Christian GA, made it five consecutive titles and 15 overall for the U.S. in the women's 100 hurdles by clocking 13.20. Masai Russell, a Kentucky freshman, was disqualified for deliberately knocking over a hurdle and missed out on an opportunity to potentially medal for the Americans in both hurdles races.

Boling won the first of three potential gold medals by running a wind-legal personal-best 10.11 in the men's 100 final, securing the second straight title for the U.S. and 12th in meet history.

In the women's 100 final, Jamaica's Briana Williams survived a scare before prevailing in 11.38, ahead of LSU signee Thelma Davies of Girard College PA (11.39) and Ole Miss freshman Brandee Presley (11.41), both Americans.

Williams, the national high school record holder at 10.94 representing Northeast FL, became the third Jamaican champion in the women's 100 in meet history, including the first since 1999.

Davis, representing Run U Xpress in North Carolina, won the 400 in 51.61 and recent Kentucky transfer Alexis Holmes took second for the U.S. in 52.59, with Florida's Doneisha Anderson, representing the Bahamas, placing third in 53.23.

It marked only the fourth women's 400 title in meet history for the Americans, who swept the top two spots for the third time, including the first since 2013.

Hazelwood West MO junior Justin Robinson prevailed in the men's 400 in 45.04, with UCLA signee Myles Misener-Daley of Canada earning silver in 45.62.

It was the 11th overall title in the men's 400 for the U.S., but the first since 2011.

Bryant, a junior at Houston Memorial TX, provided plenty of heroics in the women's long jump by coming from behind to win with a sixth-round effort of 20-2 (6.15m), edging the second-round mark of 20-1.25 (6.13m) by Jamaica's Shantae Forman.

It marked the fourth consecutive gold medal and 11th in meet history for the Americans.

Albany's Ijey Onah also grabbed bronze for the U.S. with a fourth-round leap of 19-11.75 (6.09m).

Stephen F. Austin captured both men's and women's pole vault gold medals for the Americans, with Branson Ellis clearing 17-6.50 (5.35m) and Nastassja Campbell winning the women's competition with a 14-foot clearance (4.27m).

Campbell, who celebrated her 19th birthday Thursday, became the ninth U.S. champion in the event. Towson's Hayley Horvath secured silver with a 12-9.50 (3.90m) to give the Americans their sixth women's pole vault sweep of the top two spots in meet history.

Monarch CO graduate and Stanford signee Max Manson earned bronze in the men's competition with a 16-10.75 (5.15m) clearance.

Arizona freshman PJ Austin III produced a dramatic sixth-round effort in the long jump for the U.S., soaring 25-8 (7.82m) to pull even with Jamaica's Wayne Pinnock, who had achieved the mark on his first attempt. Pinnock had the better second jump of 25-7.50 (7.81m) in the second round, compared to 25-0.50 (7.63m) from Austin in the fourth round, allowing the Jamaican standout to prevail on the tiebreaker and capture gold.

Canada's Trinity Tutti made history by capturing the first gold medal for her country in meet history in the women's shot put with a fifth-round effort of 52-4 (15.95m).

Americans Tedreauna Britt of Ole Miss and Patience Marshall of Campbell placed second and third, respectively, with marks of 51-10 (15.80m) and 51-5.75 (15.69m).

Canada also captured gold in the women's 3,000 and took the top two spots in the men's 5,000.

Brogan MacDougall ran 9:23.23 to secure the fourth title in meet history for Canada, prevailing against Northern PA junior Marlee Starliper of the U.S., who placed second in 9:27.88.

Canada produced its first sweep of the top two positions in the men's 5,000 in meet history, with Joshua DeSonuza earning his country's eighth gold medal by clocking 15:17.15, edging Marc-Andre Trudeau Perron in 15:17.56.

Rowan Hamilton set a Canadian U-20 record in the men's 6-kilogram hammer throw with a sixth-round effort of 247-2 (75.35m) to capture the fourth overall gold medal in the event for his country.

Chile's Claudio Romero Beltran won the men's discus throw with a third-round mark of 203-7 (62.07m). Kentucky freshman Joshua Sobota placed third for the U.S. with a sixth-round throw of 201-2 (61.32m).