Rayven Sample, left, competes in the men’s T47 400-meter race on Tuesday at the Parapan-American Games in Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of Joe Kusumoto, USOPC

SANTIAGO, Chile — Rayven Sample (Jamestown /Bucknell University) earned a bronze medal in the Men’s T47 400-meter race on Tuesday at the Parapan-American Games.

Sample finished in 50.68 seconds, just 0.01 seconds behind teammate Edward Upshaw (50.67 seconds). Daniel Milanes of Cuba won the gold medal with a time of 49.94.

Sample is set to compete today in the 100-meter dash.

“Feeling a lot better,”Sample said. “Last year was a little bit tough. I was really upset that my sophomore year was cut by COVID. That year we didn’t have a world’s [competition], but we’re still going. I’ve had a great season of training so far and it only keeps on going.”

Making headlines is nothing new for Sample, a 2020 Cassadaga Valley Central School graduate. A member of the 2021 United States Paralympic Team, Sample has always been quick to thank those who have supported him during his running career, including by paying a visit to the Falconer Invitational last year where he presented Golden Cougars’ coaches Dave Nelson and Nick Spry his framed Paralympic jersey and number.

“I credit Cassadaga Valley and Falconer’s track program. The time spent here is the big reason that I’m able to be at a university like Bucknell,” said Sample, who reached the finals of the 400 meters at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo in September 2021. “They’ve really pushed me far beyond whatever I thought was possible.”

Sample was born with a rare condition called arthrogryposis, which causes joint contracture that limits his range of motion, but he has never let it prevent him from pursuing his goals.