CARABALLEDA, Venezuela – Iowa State freshman Thomas Pollard led Team USA to a gold medal at the 2016 Association of Panamerican Athletics (APA) Panamerican Cross Country Cup on Friday. Pollard, who qualified for Team USA by winning the Junior 8K at the USATF Cross Country Championships last month, led the Americans with a second-place finish in the U20 8K.
With the temperature climbing into the 80s, and heat indexes cracking the 90s, Pollard overcame the harsh conditions to lead the Americans with his second place finish. The only finisher ahead of him, Daniel Ferreira of Brazil, qualified as an individual, meaning Pollard brought home the maximun amount of team points.
The four scoring Americans were among the top-nine finishers, giving the United State’s 14 team points en route to the gold medal. Canada won the silver medal with 25 team points, while hosts Venezuela earned bronze with 47 points.
Pollard, who redshirted the 2015 Iowa State cross country and 2016 indoor track seasons, completed one of the most decorated prep running careers in the state of Iowa. A three-time Gatorade Athlete of the Year, twice for cross country and once in track, Pollard was previously a two-time Foot Locker National High School Cross Country All-American and the 2014 Iowa Class 3A state champion.
