Claxton's Relay Places Sixth At Pan American Games; Butterfield Sixth In North Carolina

Pan American 4x400 Results ǀ Russell E. Blunt Invitational Results

TORONTO & DURHAM, N.C. – Two University at Albany track & field women saw action this weekend in two separate summer competitions.  Rising senior Grace Claxton competed in the 4x400 for Puerto Rico at the Pan American Games in Toronto, and rising sophomore Taahira Butterfield competed in the 100-meter dash at the Russell E. Blunt East Coast Invitational in North Carolina.

Pan American Games

Friday afternoon, Claxton helped her Puerto Rican 4x400 team qualify eighth for finals with a time of 3:32.04.  It was the second time the team of Claxton, Carol Rodriguez, Pariis Garcia, and Alethia Marrero competed together this summer, after first coming together for the Central American Championships.

In Saturday's finals, the team placed sixth in 3:33.16.  Claxton ran the third leg for the second consecutive race, splitting 53.1.  The United States placed first overall in 3:25.68.

Next for Claxton's squad is a potential trip to the North American, Central American, and Caribbean Championships in August.  Claxton would presumably reunite with UAlbany teammate Alexander Bowen, who would compete in the men's high jump, and UAlbany head coach Roberto Vives, who has been selected to coach at the meet for Team USA.

Russell E. Blunt

Butterfield competed for the second time this summer, after placing first in the women's 100-meter dash for Bermuda at the XVI Island Games.  This weekend, Butterfield represented her club team, the Bermuda Pacers, in the Russell E. Blunt East Coast Invitational in Durham, North Carolina.

Competing in the 17-18 year old division of the 100-meter dash, Butterfield qualified for finals in eight place, finishing Saturday's preliminary round in 12.48.  In Sunday's final, Butterfield placed sixth in 12.60.  Her seasonal best time in the 100-meter dash is 12.09.