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Gomez Sets Americas Record in Paralympic Final
9/3/2024 7:31:00 PM | Track & Field, Paris Olympics / Paralympics
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue track & field senior Joel Gomez broke the Americas record at the Paralympic Games on Tuesday, September 3, in Paris.
Competing in the Paralympic final of the 1,500-meter T13 at Stade de France, Gomez finished in 3:48.42. He placed seventh overall for Team USA, his best career Paralympic Games finish.
Along with setting an Americas record, Gomez bested his previous personal-best time by two seconds. He was 0.13 seconds shy of also breaking what was the world record entering the day.
"Huge shoutout to my teammates and friends back at Purdue, I know a few of them were watching the race live, so I appreciate them getting up at 4 a.m. (ET) for me," Gomez said. "I just joined the Purdue team about six months ago, so it's been a huge help having a team surrounding me with support, and the friendships that I have made along the way with that. Being able to travel and compete more has been huge and I'm excited to get even more."
A native of Encinitas, California, Gomez also raced at the 2020 Tokyo Games and was 10th in the 1,500m T13 and 11th in the 400m T13. He qualified for Paris with a win at the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials in July.
In his first season for the Boilermakers as a junior in 2023-24, Gomez competed in six meets. His best finish came at the venerable Texas Relays from March 28-29, where he was fourth in the 1,500m in a season-best 3:52.10. Gomez also helped the distance medley relay finish eighth. He made his Purdue debut at the Windy City Invite from February 9-10 and ran in the 800m and 4x400 relay.
Gomez is majoring in civil engineering at Purdue and is expected to graduate in May, 2025.
In August, a pair of Boilermaker alums competed at the Paris Olympic Games. Chukwuebuka Enekwechi was sixth in the shot put on August 3, and Devynne Charlton was sixth in the 100m hurdles on August 10. Like Gomez, both were competing at their second Olympics.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook.
Competing in the Paralympic final of the 1,500-meter T13 at Stade de France, Gomez finished in 3:48.42. He placed seventh overall for Team USA, his best career Paralympic Games finish.
Along with setting an Americas record, Gomez bested his previous personal-best time by two seconds. He was 0.13 seconds shy of also breaking what was the world record entering the day.
"Huge shoutout to my teammates and friends back at Purdue, I know a few of them were watching the race live, so I appreciate them getting up at 4 a.m. (ET) for me," Gomez said. "I just joined the Purdue team about six months ago, so it's been a huge help having a team surrounding me with support, and the friendships that I have made along the way with that. Being able to travel and compete more has been huge and I'm excited to get even more."
A native of Encinitas, California, Gomez also raced at the 2020 Tokyo Games and was 10th in the 1,500m T13 and 11th in the 400m T13. He qualified for Paris with a win at the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials in July.
In his first season for the Boilermakers as a junior in 2023-24, Gomez competed in six meets. His best finish came at the venerable Texas Relays from March 28-29, where he was fourth in the 1,500m in a season-best 3:52.10. Gomez also helped the distance medley relay finish eighth. He made his Purdue debut at the Windy City Invite from February 9-10 and ran in the 800m and 4x400 relay.
Gomez is majoring in civil engineering at Purdue and is expected to graduate in May, 2025.
In August, a pair of Boilermaker alums competed at the Paris Olympic Games. Chukwuebuka Enekwechi was sixth in the shot put on August 3, and Devynne Charlton was sixth in the 100m hurdles on August 10. Like Gomez, both were competing at their second Olympics.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook.
