Jumper Rachela Pace joins University of Texas track and field team

Jumper Rachela Pace will continue her track and field career at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), the American team announced on their channels.

Pace, 21, is a five-time national champion and a 2024 NCAA All-American jumper – a recognition as one of the best collegiate athletes across the United States – after impressing at Fresno State track and field team, in the 2023/2024 season.

Pace earned All-Mountain West honors last season with a triple jump silver medal performance on a school-record 13.26m leap at the 2024 Mountain West Outdoor Championships.

The 13.26 was also a new Maltese record in this event.

She also ranks second on the Fresno State all-time long jump outdoor performances with a mark of 6.30m last season.

Pace earned USTFCCCA All-America Second Team honors while finishing 13th at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships on a triple jump of 13.03m, after collecting bronze at the Mountain West Indoor Championships in both the triple jump (13.36m) and long jump (6.29m).

The Maltese athlete also broke the Fresno indoor triple jump record three times last season, together with the Maltese record when she jumped at 13.40m in February.

She is second on the Bulldogs’ all-time indoor long jumpers list at 6.31m, also a national record.

During her second season in Fresno, Pace also earned the opportunity to compete at the 2023 NCAA West Preliminary Round.

Pace is the record holder of 13 national marks, nine outdoor and four indoor.

Her nine outdoor records include: the outdoor national (senior) triple jump, U20 high jump, U20 long jump, U20 triple jump, U18 high jump, U18 long jump, U18 triple jump, U16 high jump and U16 triple jump.

Her four indoor records include: the indoor national (senior) long jump and triple jump, U23 triple jump and U23 long jump.

Earlier this summer, she was crowned both the long jump and triple jump champion at the Maltese championships.

The long jumper placed second at 6.28 in June’s Championship of the Small States of Europe held in Gibraltar.

“It’s exciting to be adding another outstanding jumper to our squad with Rachela Pace,” Aaron Fox, UTSA Director of Track and Field/Cross Country, said.

“She’s proven herself on the international stage and in NCAA competition, and we can’t wait to get to work with her to help reach her track goals and classroom goals during her final collegiate season.”