Former Texas State Track And Field Athlete Mike Hazle Wins Silver Medal At 2007 Pan American Games
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Former Texas State track and field athlete Mike Hazle's throw of 75.33 meters won the silver medal in the men's javelin competition on Saturday at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Cuba's Guillermo Martinez took gold with a throw of 77.66 meters while Brazil's Alexon Maximiano won bronze after finishing just behind Hazel with a throw of 75.04 meters.
Hazle's throw set a season best for the Temple, Texas, native. He was also one of two Americans among the 10 competitors in the men's javelin event along with Washington native Justin St. Clair, who finished seventh.
Hazle will also look to replicate his success next month at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan, from August 25 to September 2.
The 25th Pan American Games, which includes competitors from North and South America and the Caribbean, conclude on Sunday, July 29. For more information on the games, visit www.rio2007.org.br.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi athlete Hickel Woolery became the first Islander to compete in the Pan Am Games placing ninth in the discus on Saturday afternoon.
Woolery, who represented his native Jamaica after placing second at national championships, tossed the discus 50.51 meters in his first attempt to earn a top-10 finish. The Islander, who placed 11th at the NCAA Championship in June, was the top finisher from Jamaica. Teammate Jason Morgan, who won the Jamaican national title, placed tenth with a throw of 50.09 meters.
American Michael Robertson and Adam Kuehl placed first and second. Robertson won the event with a throw of 59.24 meters on his first try. Kuehl had a throw of 57.50 meters in the third round.