WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue track & field junior Joel Gomez has been named to the Team USA roster for the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships.
Gomez, who is a distance runner in his first season with the Boilermakers, will compete in the 1,500-meter T13 event in Kobe, Japan, from May 17-25.
A native of Encinitas, California, Gomez earned his spot at the world championships after he won the 1,500m T13 at the 2024 U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Championships in Walnut, California, on March 16.
"We are very happy for Joel," Purdue head coach Norbert Elliott said. "He has made several national teams and has competed well at those championships, and we are more excited that this time around, he will also be representing the Boilermakers as well as Team USA. We wish him well and are excited to see him compete."
Gomez joined the Boilermaker squad this season and is coached by Purdue assistant and distance coach Connor Mahoney-Ashberry.
"It is an honor to be selected to the world's team, and I look forward to competing in Japan in the lead-up to the Paris Paralympic Games later this summer," Gomez said. "I am so grateful for the guidance of Coach Ashberry and the support of my teammates."
This will be Gomez's third appearance at the World Championships, all racing in the 1,500m T13. He was sixth in 2023 and 11th in 2019.
At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, Gomez was 10th in the 1,500m T13 and 11th in the 400m T13 for Team USA. He is expected to compete at this summer's Paralympic Games in Paris.
Additionally, Gomez won gold in the 1,500m at the 2023 Parapan American Games and won the 400m and 1,500m at the 2019 World Para Athletics Junior Championships.
For the Boilermakers, Gomez has competed in two meets during the 2023-24 season. He ran in the distance medley relay at the Big Ten Championships on February 23 after racing in the 800m and 4x400 at the Windy City Invite from February 9-10.
Gomez is majoring in civil engineering at Purdue and is expected to graduate in May, 2025.
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.
Gomez, who is a distance runner in his first season with the Boilermakers, will compete in the 1,500-meter T13 event in Kobe, Japan, from May 17-25.
A native of Encinitas, California, Gomez earned his spot at the world championships after he won the 1,500m T13 at the 2024 U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Championships in Walnut, California, on March 16.
"We are very happy for Joel," Purdue head coach Norbert Elliott said. "He has made several national teams and has competed well at those championships, and we are more excited that this time around, he will also be representing the Boilermakers as well as Team USA. We wish him well and are excited to see him compete."
Gomez joined the Boilermaker squad this season and is coached by Purdue assistant and distance coach Connor Mahoney-Ashberry.
"It is an honor to be selected to the world's team, and I look forward to competing in Japan in the lead-up to the Paris Paralympic Games later this summer," Gomez said. "I am so grateful for the guidance of Coach Ashberry and the support of my teammates."
This will be Gomez's third appearance at the World Championships, all racing in the 1,500m T13. He was sixth in 2023 and 11th in 2019.
At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, Gomez was 10th in the 1,500m T13 and 11th in the 400m T13 for Team USA. He is expected to compete at this summer's Paralympic Games in Paris.
Additionally, Gomez won gold in the 1,500m at the 2023 Parapan American Games and won the 400m and 1,500m at the 2019 World Para Athletics Junior Championships.
For the Boilermakers, Gomez has competed in two meets during the 2023-24 season. He ran in the distance medley relay at the Big Ten Championships on February 23 after racing in the 800m and 4x400 at the Windy City Invite from February 9-10.
Gomez is majoring in civil engineering at Purdue and is expected to graduate in May, 2025.
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.