Marlee Starliper and Thelma Davies, both representing Team USA, earned silver medals at the Pan-American U20 Championships in Costa Rica on Friday.
Starliper took second place in the women's 3,000 meters. The rising high school senior at Northern went 9:27.88, as Brogan MacDougall of Canada outlasted her in the closing laps.
MacDougall went to the front in the opening half of a lap. Starliper matched her move and the two distanced themselves from the rest of the pack. Starliper was right on her shoulder, until about 600 meters to go when MacDougall gained some separation. Though it looked like MacDougall was fading in the closing meters, the Canadian was able to hang on for the win in 9:23.23.
For Starliper, her 9:27.88 betters her own Pennsylvania state record, which she set at the USATF U20 Championships last month with a 9:29.39. Friday's race wraps up what has been a strong junior season for Starliper, as she'll now turn her attention to her senior season of cross country.
Ariana Gardizy of the University of Pennsylvania, a 2018 North Penn graduate, took fourth in 10:09.32, just 2 seconds off a third place bronze medal.
Davies, meanwhile, was second in a very close women's 100 meters. In a tight final, high school national record holder Briana Williams of Jamaica narrowly managed to hold off Davies to win in 11.38. Davies was second in a wind-legal 11.39.
Neither Davies, nor Williams or American Brandee Presley (Ole Miss) got away particularly well. In the end, Williams held on for the close win and Pan-American U20 title. Presley was third in 11.41.
Davies, a Girard College graduate, set the Pennsylvania state record at 11.25 at the USATF U20 Championships, taking second to Presley, to qualify for the Pan-Am team.
Davies isn't done quite yet. She will return Saturday for the semifinals of the women's 4x100 meter relay.