U.S. Paralympics Track & Field names 54 athletes to national team

By USOPC Staff

Today 54 athletes – 34 men and 20 women – were named to the 2020 U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Team. The roster includes 37 Paralympians and 20 Paralympic medalists, while also showcasing multiple reigning world champions.

“I’m really excited about this national team’s depth,” says Joaquim Cruz, head coach of U.S. Paralympics Track & Field.

“Top to bottom, we have a great roster. It’s also a nice mix of Paralympic champions and Paralympic hopefuls. It’s obviously an important year with Tokyo 2020 right around the corner, and I think we have an excellent team lined up.”

Of the 54 athletes named, 12 are current world champions – Jeremy Campbell (Peyton, Texas), Josh Cinnamo (Lakeville, Minnesota), Breanna Clark (Los Angeles, California), Lex Gillette (Raleigh, North Carolina), Sam Grewe (Middlebury, Indiana), Noah Malone (Fishers, Indiana), Ray Martin (Jersey City, New Jersey), Brittni Mason (Richmond Heights, Ohio), Jaleen Roberts (Kent, Washington), Daniel Romanchuk (Mount Airy, Maryland), Roderick Townsend (Stockton, California), and Deja Young (Mesquite, Texas).

Three newcomers make their national team debut after standout 2019 campaigns. Sophie Munter (Spokane, Washington), a U.S. Paralympics Track and Field High School All-American, joins the team after an impressive performance at the junior world championships.

Sydney Barta (Arlington, Virginia) earned gold medals in both the 100 and 200 T45-64 at the junior world championships and gold in the women’s 200 T64 at the 2019 Parapan American Games, catapulting her to the national spotlight.

Rounding out the rookie squad is Brittni Mason (Richmond Heights, Ohio), a sprinter at Eastern Michigan University, who made her Team USA debut at last year’s world championships, where she earned gold and set the world record in the women’s 100 T47.

The season kicks off in March with a series of World Para Athletics Grand Prix events, including a stop in Mesa, Arizona, at the Desert Challenge Games in April.

The U.S. Paralympic Team Trials will be held June 25-28 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where the athletes who will represent Team USA in Tokyo will be named. The Paralympic Games will be held Aug. 25 – Sept. 6.