IOWA CITY, Iowa — Three University of Iowa track and field athletes will represent the United States at the Pan American U20 Championships in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, August 4-6. The freshmen trio of Will Ryan (5,000-meters), Mike Stein (javelin) and Wisdom Williams (shot put) qualified for the Pan American Championships at the USATF U20 National Championships in Eugene, Oregon, last month.

“We are extremely excited for Will, Wisdom, and Mike competing to represent the University of Iowa and the United States at the Pan Am U20 Championships,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “It’s a very proud honor to represent your country on the world stage, and each of these athletes earned that opportunity this season! They have all been training very hard this summer, and I believe all three have a great shot to medal. It’s going to be a great experience for them this week and I can’t wait to watch them compete!”

Ryan, a Waukee, Iowa, native, finished third with a time of 14:57.87 in the 5,000-meter race to cement his spot in the Pan Am Championships. Stein, the javelin specialist from Milford, Iowa, qualified with a second-place finish in the event in Eugene, throwing 65.81 meters (215’ 11”). Williams, a native of Alexandria, Virginia, tossed the shot put 15.39 meters (50’ 6”) to earn her spot on the national team.

“I’m extremely proud of Mike and Wisdom,” Iowa throws and assistant coach Ray Robinson said. “The goal coming into the year was making the U20 team. We talked about it, visualized it, and are now realizing it. The goal now is to come home with a couple medals. The plan we have set forth is open big, make the final, and finish in medal position,” Robinson added. “It’s an honor to represent the United States in a major championship and it’s a privilege to do so representing the University of Iowa. We look forward to bringing hardware back to Iowa City.”