CALI, Colombia — UTSA senior Lacee Barnes placed fifth in the discus throw while representing her native Cayman Islands in the Junior Pan American Games this week.
Barnes, the school record-holder in the event, recorded a mark of 51.00 meters to earn fifth out of 12 competitors in the international competition.
"I feel great about my performance." Barnes said. "It's always an honor to represent my home country. This is the highest I've ever placed for Cayman at a competition of this magnitude so with that, I'm happy. I was just a meter away from placing fourth, so there's still work to be done but I'm pleased with my progression.
The most important factor I took away from this competition is never count yourself out. I'm an advocate for athletes' mental health awareness due to struggles of my own. I've taken the time to address these issues and I want to express to other athletes the importance of acknowledging your mental health. We all go through it. This was the most confident I've felt in years, solely because of the support from loved ones and professionals who helped me get through my mental blocks."
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