GORHAM, Maine – Freshman Ryker Paradis (Lewiston, Maine) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies' men's track & field team will be competing at the USA Track & Field U20 Outdoor Championships on Friday, June 19 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Paradis will be competing in the first flight of the shot put at 7:00 pm. The U20 Championships will use a 6kg shot put (13.2 lbs.) compared to the 16-lb shot used at the collegiate level. 
 
Paradis, who placed 16th to earn Second Team All-American honors in the outdoor shot put at the 2026 NCAA Division III National Championships, set program record in the both the indoor (17.41m) and outdoor (17.25m) shot put during his rookie season in addition to earning numerous regional and conference accolades. He also was named the Little East Conference Field Rookie of the Year for both the indoor and outdoor season and won the conference title in the indoor shot put. Paradis also won the Division III New England shot put title during each season and earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Region honors in both events.
 
The top two performers in each event will qualify to compete for Team USA at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships on August 5-9 in Eugene.