Unheralded Athletes Shine at Late Pan American Games in Santiago
SANTIAGO, Chile — While most of the world’s top track and field athletes have been enjoying a well-earned break since September, the late-running Pan American Games in Chile have provided a platform for other competitors to shine.
The 27-year-old Kasey Knevelbaard has emerged as the surprise winner of the 5,000-meter race, though a Mexican runner is protesting the result after being disqualified. Knevelbaard, from California, only found out he would be competing in Santiago in mid-September, but embraced the challenge despite not being specifically prepared for the event.
“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,” Knevelbaard explained in an interview with The Associated Press. “I had a conversation with my coach. I said I really wanted to do this. He said we were not going to prepare for it, so I was going to have to do it off our normal training.”
Clocking a time of 14 minutes, 47.69 seconds in cold conditions, Knevelbaard’s performance fell short of the American record but still secured victory. The dedicated athlete expressed gratitude for the chance to compete and plans to continue training in preparation for future challenges.
Similarly, Ryan Talbot, the decathlon Pan American bronze medalist, has not had much time to rest since the Games began. Talbot, 23, recognized the unique opportunity the late season presented for younger athletes to compete on a big stage.
“It’s crazy. 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,” Talbot commented.
Despite the challenges, Talbot has embraced the experience. Hailing from Alto, Michigan, Talbot is grateful for the opportunity to showcase his skills at such a prestigious event. While he plans to take some time to rest, the indoor season is just around the corner, and he will soon be back in training.
Overall, the late-running Pan American Games in Santiago have provided a chance for lesser-known athletes to make their mark. It may not be the usual sporting calendar, but for individuals like Knevelbaard and Talbot, it is an opportunity they have fully embraced.