Henry set to run for Team USA at Junior Pan Am Championships

William Henry, who recently completed his freshman season with the Arizona State University track and field program, will be on the track July 22 for Team USA as he will be among the many athletes competing in the 2011 Pan Am Junior Championships that will be held at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Fla.

Henry, a native of Trotwood, Ohio, earned a spot on the team at last month's USA Junior Championships in Eugene, Ore., where he placed second overall in 46.47. He will compete in the 400m dash and with the 4x400m relay. The individual race will be held on July 22, with the semifinals being held at 11:55am ET and the finals at 6:25pm ET the same day. The relay will compete on July 24, with the semifinals at 11:40am ET and the finals at 7:20pm ET.

The last time the Pan Am Junior Championships were held came in 2009 in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Three individuals with ties to ASU competed in the meet with each winning a medal. Anna Jelmini (USA) won the shot put (16.37m) and took second in the discus (54.91m) while Jordan Clarke (USA) was second in the shot put (19.97m) and Christabel Nettey (Canada) was second in the long jump (6.05m).

The Pan Am Junior Championships is a biennial event that features athletes, ages 16-19, from the Pan American region (North, Central and South America). Other hosts for this meet have included Sudbury (CAN) in 1980, Barquisimeto (VEN) in 1982, Nassau (BAH) in 1984, Winter Park (USA) in 1986, Santa Fe (ARG) in 1989 and 2001, Kingston (JAM) in 1991, Winnipeg (CAN) in 1993, Santiago (CHI) in 1995, Havana (CUB) in 1997, Tampa (USA) in 1999, Bridgetown (BAR) in 2003, Windsor (CAN) in 2005 and Sao Paulo (BRA) in 2007 to join Port of Spain, which hosted in 2009.

Four Sun Devils have won titles in the past, including Ryan Whiting (shot put and discus in 2005), Sarah Stevens (shot put in 2005), Jelmini (shot put in 2009) and Leslie Deniz (discus in 1980).