COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 16, 2024) – Both U.S. pairs competing at the NORCECA Continental Tour Final in Juan Dolio finished as tournament champions when play concluded on May 14.
Miles Evans and Chase Budinger defeated Diaz/Alayo (CUB) in the men’s semifinal 2-0 (21-9, 21-17) which advanced them to play Schachter/Dearing (CAN) in the final. Evans and Budinger emerged victorious with a 2-0 win (21-18, 21-19).
The victory at the Continental Tour Final was a massive step for the U.S. men’s duo as it vaulted them ahead of Trevor Crabb and Theo Brunner in the race for the final men’s Olympic spot.
“We knew how important winning the NORCECA qualifier was in the Olympic race, and it ended up being the tournament that helped us pass Trevor and Theo finally,” Evans said. “It doesn’t mean much until that last event is over and we are on top, but it definitely feels good to take the number two spot as time gets closer for this whole Olympic qualification to end.”
Prior to the Continental Tour Final, only 100 points separated the two U.S. men’s pairs in the provisional Olympic rankings. There are now three points-scoring tournaments to go to decide the final Olympic place: Elite 16 Espinho (May 22-26), Challenge Stare Jablonki (May 28-June 2) and Elite 16 Ostrava (June 6-9).
Molly Shaw and Chloe Loreen also claimed victory at the NORCECA Continental Tour Final. The U.S. women defeated Gutierez/Torres (MEX) (21-14, 21-19) in the semis to face Pavan/McBain (CAN) in the final. Shaw/Loreen claimed the top step of the podium with a 2-0 win (21-14, 21-14).
Shaw and Loreen are on a hot streak to start 2024. The pair previously won BPT Futures Pirae, Tahiti, in their last international competition, making it back-to-back gold medals with the Continental Tour Final Victory. They will next compete at AVP Huntington Beach May 17-19.