Arkansas alum Taylor Werner claims Pan Am Games silver

SANTIAGO, Chile – Racing late into the 2023 season, Arkansas alum Taylor Werner collected a silver medal as member of the United States team in the 5,000m at the Pan American Games on Thursday evening.

One of two Americans in the field of seven runners, Werner led the race in the latter stages. Posting a time of 16:06.48, Werner finished as the runner-up behind a 16:04.12 for Joselyn Brea of Venezuela.

Canada’s Julie-Anne Staehli, who led during the middle stages of the race, finished third in 16:06.75. The other American, Emily Infeld, placed fourth in 16:09.53.

Werner becomes just the second American female to earn a silver medal in the Pan Am Games 5,000m. Previously, Catherine Ferrell had a silver medal in 2007. There have been four American bronze medalists and no gold medalists since the event was first contested in 1995.

Racing in third at 1,000m (3:19.7), Werner moved up to second at 1,800m (5:58.91) and maintained that postion through 3,000m (10:01.19).

Leading at 3,800m (12:49.15), Werner held the lead over the next pair of laps. On the backstretch of the final lap, Brea and Staehli passed Werner. Brea pulled away for the victory while Werner passed Staehli in the homestretch to secure the silver medal position.

Another Arkansas alum, Logan Jolly, will compete in the 3,000m steeplechase on Saturday at 5:20 p.m. (CT) amid a field of 13 entrants. The event was first contested in 2007 at the Pan American Games and Americans have collected two gold and two silver medals in previous races.

Photos by Jorge Loyola/Santiago 2023 via Photosport & Alejandro Pagni/Santiago 2023 via Photosport