Karson Gordon’s team – well, one of them – relished in sunny weather in Honolulu this weekend.

But the freshman had other concerns over in Peru.

Gordon and three members of UCLA track and field competed in the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, from Tuesday to Saturday. Gordon, also a member of UCLA football, forewent a visit to the Hawaiian islands to win a silver medal in the men’s triple jump final, setting personal bests in both the qualifying and final rounds.

Rising sophomore Gabriel Clement III, rising freshman Taylor Snaer and Gordon represented the United States, while rising freshman Julia Tunks represented Canada.

Gordon was the first Bruin to find success during the meet, equaling his personal best during the qualification round of the men’s triple jump. Jumping 16.19 meters, Gordon automatically qualified for the final in fourth place. New Zealand’s Ethan Olivier, Gordon’s new rival, jumped 16.37 meters to qualify for the finals in first place.

Olivier took immediate control of the finals in his first attempt. Jumping 16.76 meters on his first attempt, the Kiwi eased himself into first place and clung onto the top spot for the entirety of the final. Olivier extended his lead to 17.01 meters on his fifth attempt, equaling the Oceania U20 area record.

Gordon’s third attempt was the best of his six, where he jumped 16.74 meters to smash his personal best by over half a meter. En route to a second-place finish, Gordon broke the U.S. high school boys’ triple jump national record, taking down Kenny Hall’s 20-year-old record.

Clement III joined Gordon on the podium at the championships as a member of Team USA’s gold-medal effort in the 4×400-meter relay. In the qualifying heats, Clement III ran the third leg, contributing 46.47 seconds to the team’s 3:05.16 effort, a U20 season best for the Americans.

Team USA was on top heading into the final, where it won the gold medal with another season-best time at 3:03.56.

Unlike Clement III, Snaer was able to compete in the finals of her respective relay. The Americans comfortably qualified into the 4×100-meter relay final at second place with 44.22 seconds, a U20 season best for Team USA.

During the final, the U.S. women kickstarted their medal campaign with the quickest reaction time of the field. By the 300-meter mark, they led their Jamaican rivals, the top qualifiers.

As Team USA’s Avery Lewis initiated the baton pass to Snaer for the fourth leg, the pair miscalculated the exchange and botched the lead heading into the final stretch. The Americans toed the line in sixth place but were eventually disqualified because of the messy baton pass.

Individually, Snaer placed fifth in the 200-meter final, while Tunks placed seventh in the discus final.

Three of the four Bruins represented their countries internationally before making a collegiate appearance – promising potential for the program.

The medal haul headed back to Westwood doesn’t hurt either.