Kasandra Vegas

{{short description|Samoan athlete}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox sportsperson | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = | fullname = | nickname = | nationality = | residence = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1991|3|1}}<ref name=WAProf>{{cite web |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/kasandra-vegas-14418604 |title=Kasandra VEGAS |publisher=World Athletics |access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref> | birth_place = | height = | weight = | website = | country = {{flagcountry|Samoa}} | sport = Discus throw / Hammer throw | event = | collegeteam = | universityteam = | club = | team = | turnedpro = | partner = | former_partner = | coach = | retired = | coaching = | worlds = | regionals = | nationals = | olympics = | highestranking = | pb = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Women's discus / hammer throw}} {{MedalCountry | {{SAM}} }} {{MedalCompetition|Pacific Games}} {{MedalBronze| 2015 Port Moresby |Discus}} {{MedalBronze| 2015 Port Moresby |Hammer throw}} {{MedalCompetition|Oceania Championships}} {{MedalBronze| 2015 Cairns |Hammer throw}} {{MedalBronze| 2014 Rarotonga |Discus}} {{MedalBronze| 2014 Rarotonga |Hammer throw}} }} '''Kasandra Salamasina Le Tafa’ifa Vegas''' (born 1 March 1991) is a Samoan American athlete who has represented Samoa at the Pacific Games.

Vegas is from Honolulu, Hawaii, and was educated at Kamehameha High School and Northern Arizona University, where she majored in sports medicine and exercise science.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nauathletics.com/sports/track-and-field/roster/kasandra-vegas/1616 |title= Kasandra Vegas |publisher=NAU |access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref> In 2013 she was named a finalist for the National Collegiate Athletic Association women of the year award.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/naus-kasandra-vegas-a-finalist-for-ncaa-woman-of-the-year |title=NAU's Kasandra Vegas a finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year |work=Fox Sports |date=1 August 2013 |access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref> She later studied for a master's degree in international public health at the University of Sydney in Australia.<ref name=SO2016a>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/1366 |title=Kasandra's long shot at making Olympics |publisher=Samoa Observer |date=23 July 2016 |access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref>

She represented Samoa at the 2014 Oceania Athletics Championships in Rarotonga, winning bronze in both the discus and hammer throw.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hawaii Beat |work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |page= |date=9 August 2014 |author= |via=EBSCOHost}}</ref> She won another bronze at the 2015 championships in Cairns. At the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea she won bronze in both the discus and hammer throw.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pg2015.gems.pro/Result/Event_Single.aspx?Event_GUID=4804512b-4c4c-4acf-b1a0-48003ffb7389&SetLanguage=en-GB&Section= |title=Athletics: Discus: Female |publisher=XV Pacific Games |access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://pg2015.gems.pro/Result/Event_Single.aspx?Event_GUID=664a3a00-10fc-4073-a9a0-c4f990c98160&SetLanguage=en-GB&Section= |title=Athletics: Hammer: Female |publisher=XV Pacific Games |access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loopsamoa.com/content/double-clean-sweep-host-nation-rounds-third-night-pacific-games-athletics |title=Double clean sweep for host nation rounds off third night of Pacific Games athletics |publisher=Loop Samoa |date=16 July 2015 |access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref> She had hoped to be selected for the Samoan team for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,<ref>{{cite news |title=The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Ferd's Words column |work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |date=11 August 2015 |author=Ferd Lewis |via=EBSCOHost}}</ref><ref name=SO2016a/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/6640 |title=Trip of special moments |publisher=Samoa Observer |author=Pai Mulitalo Ale |date=13 January 2016 |access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref> but failed to qualify.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/9704 |title=Olympic hopes dashed |publisher=Samoa Observer |author=Deidre Fanene |date=28 July 2016 |access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vegas, Kasandra Salamasina Le Tafa'ifa}} Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American sportswomen Category:American women discus throwers Category:American women hammer throwers Category:American people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:Kamehameha Schools alumni Category:Northern Arizona University alumni Category:Pacific Games bronze medalists for Samoa Category:Pacific Games medalists in athletics Category:Sportspeople from Honolulu Category:University of Sydney alumni