Shelby Tyler and Semira Killebrew, both representing Team USA, earned medals at the Pan-American U20 Championships in Costa Rica on Saturday.
Tyler took 3rd in the high jump competition. The Noblesville High School graduate, heading for Georgia this fall cleared 1.78 meters, equivalent to about 5ft 10in. Her teammate, Sanaa Barnes would go on to win the competition with a clearance of 1.83m or about 6ft.
This is the 3rd time this season that she has cleared 5'10", with her best outdoor mark coming just a month ago at the USATF U20 Championships with a 6 foot clearance. The 3 time state champion accredited her approach efforts as to what caused her to be out so early in the competition. Calling them little things, but also very important things.
Shelby Tyler ends her high school career now as a 3 time state champion, 2 time USATF National Champion, a New Balance Nationals Outdoor Champion, and Indiana No. 3 all-time in the high jump.
For Killebrew, she got the help of 3 other Team USA athletes to earn a gold medal. She participated on the 4x100 meter relay team along with Thelma Davies, Brandee Presley and Caisja Chandler.
Killebrew, a Brebeuf Jesuit Prep graduate, set the Indiana state record at 11.24 at the Brooks PR Invite to win the event there. At the USATF U20 Champs, she ended up 3rd to just miss qualifying for an individual event, but making the relay team.
In the 4x100 relay, Semira Killebrew was the 2nd leg, taking the baton from Thelma Davies in a tight 2nd place. She would make up that little bit to bring the USA into 1st going into the 3rd leg handing off to Chandler. The ladies would wrap it up neat with a big finish by Presley to secure the gold medal in 43.51. That time ends them just .13 off of the event record set back in 1999 by the US as well.
Semira Killebrew, recently committed to the University of Florida, ends her high school career with a bang by competing on her first national team. She also ends as IN No. 1 in the 100, No. 9 in the 200 and IN No. 8 as a member of Brebeuf's 4x1 2018 state team.