Drop wins bronze at Pan Am Juniors

Former Coginchaug High School star Samantha Drop finished third in the 5,000 meters at the Pan Am Junior Track and Field Championships in Lima, Peru on Saturday.

Canada’s Laura Dickinson won in a time of 16 minutes, 39.50 seconds. Mexico’s Maria D Ruiz Acuna was second (16:41.01) followed by Drop (16:44.01). Drop’s time was nearly 15 seconds faster than what she posted in winning the event at the United States Track and Field Junior Outdoor National Championships last month.

Norwalk’s Eric van Der Els posted the second fastest time of 3:52.19 in the 1,500 meter semifinals to advance to Sunday’s final. Heading into his sophomore season at UConn, van Der Els is coming off winning the event in a time of 3:46.84 at the U.S. junior nationals.