U.S. track team wraps up strong Pan Ams performance

— -- TORONTO -- The Pan Am Games might not have the cachet of either the Olympics or the world championships, or the same number of worldwide household names (no Usain Bolt, no Michael Phelps). But it still is an important competition and, in at least one way, superior.

"One of our teammates came into the dorm and said, 'This bed is too small,'" said two-time Olympian Wallace Spearmon. "And I told him, 'These are actually are a lot nicer than what we had in London [2012 Olympics] and Beijing [2008]. If you can't get used to this, you might as well not make an Olympic team.'"

Next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are obviously the main goal on the radar, but the U.S. track and field team won 40 medals here (14 gold, 13 silver and 13 bronze) and set six Pan Am records (the only remaining final event, the men's 50K walk, is Sunday). They earned a good rest, even if someone found the beds a little small.

And the Americans did not even field their best team here because they are looking ahead more to the world championships in Beijing next month. Less than 10 of the possible world participants competed here for the United States.

"We came to perform and put on for our country," said BeeJay Lee, who was part of the men's 4x100-meter relay that initially finished second in the race before host Canada was disqualified for stepping out of line during a handoff.

Lee said he didn't find out about the disqualification until roughly two hours after the race.

"We found out the good news from big brother Wallace Spearmon," Lee said. "We just raced and went out there and did our job. We wanted to win fair and square, but our coaches protested for us and we came out with the gold. We're just thankful for the opportunity."

Whatever the medal, though, the U.S. team will need some time getting them all through airport security.

"This is not the world team, but it just shows how deep we are, no matter what," said Barbara Pierre, who added a gold medal in Saturday's 4x100 to her bronze in the 100. "Like I said, no matter who they put anywhere, we'll show up. That's how deep the U.S. is. It doesn't matter whether it's the Pan Ams or any other meet, we have the numbers."

The women's relay teams were especially strong Saturday night, with the U.S. holding off Jamaica at the end in the 4x100 and then winning the 4x400 by more than two seconds.

"It's always intense against Jamaica," said Kaylin Whitney, who won the women's 200 and ran the anchor in the 4x100. "Their fans are everywhere. It's crazy. But to be there when the Jamaicans are introduced and hear how great the cheers are for them, it adds a little more fuel to the fire."

The U.S. team had a wide age range of athletes, from the 17-year-old Whitney, to 29-year-old Alysia Montano and 33-year-old Jillian Camarena-Williams. Montano and Camarena-Williams each won silver medals roughly a year after giving birth to their daughters. Spearmon, 30, says the team is a revolving door of athletes.

"We have a young group of guys here and this was our first time running together," said Spearmon, who was part of the men's 4x100 relay. "They're kids, fresh out of college, still in college, first year on the circuit. I'm really proud of these young guys. I'm not going to give them the torch, but when they take it, I know it will be in good hands."