Wake Forest’s John Maurins takes gold at Pan Am Junior Games

Wake Forest’s rising sophomore John Maurins and incoming freshmen Robert Heppenstal and Alexandria Florent competed at the 2015 Pan American Junior Games July 31-August 2.

Maurins took gold in the junior men’s shot put event, Heppenstall took silver in the men’s 800m, and Florent finished fifth in the women’s high jump.

Maurins, representing the United States, reached a distance of 19.49m to claim the gold medal. His mark is now the best throw by an athlete from Panamerica, and no one has thrown farther from North, South, or Central America with the 6k shot put at the junior level. Maurins’ current mark now is the fifth-best throw in the world.

Duke: Former Blue Devil swimmer and current Duke volunteer assistant coach Ashley Twichell, rising sophomore Isabella Paez and rising senior Jaimee Gundry wrapped up competition at the 2015 FINA World Aquatic Championships over the weekend in Kazan, Russia.

Wake Forest: Former Demon Deacons Marissa Dodd and Allison Emrey and senior Mariana Sims will begin their quests for their 2016 LPGA Tour Cards at Stage I of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Durham Sport Club: Concussion research director Kevin Guskiewicz is guest speaker at noon Wednesday at Croasdaile Country Club.

This story was originally published August 3, 2015 at 7:30 PM with the headline "Wake Forest’s John Maurins takes gold at Pan Am Junior Games."