Ana Guevara in action (© Mexsports)
Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicMexico’s Ana Guevara easily qualified for the 400 metres final this Friday, but Cuban World Javelin champion and record holder Osleidys Menendez suffered an upset loss, during the third day of athletics in the Pan American Games at the Juan Pablo Duarte stadium in the Dominican capital on Thursday 7 August.
After rain had made the track wet, Guevara started out fast in lane four and uncharacteristically looked back after about 50 metres, and as a result USA’s Melisa Barber reacted and accelerated to enter the home straight with a narrow lead over the Mexican.
However, it was at this point that currently the world’s fastest one-lap runner activated her fifth gear and sprinted home to easily win the first semifinal in 52.22. Following home the 26 year-old, were Barber (52.62) and Jamaica’s Michelle Burgher (53.13).
“The race was not demanding and I just wanted to get the feeling of the crowd and the track before the final. I am determined to try to break Ana Fidelia Quirot’s Games record of 49.61, but the gold is the most important goal”, said a smiling Guevara, wearing the traditional green and red Mexican uniform.
The other semifinal winners were Grenada’s Hazel Ann Clark (52.21) and Guyana’s 2002 Commonwealth Games champion Aliann Pompey (52.23). The remaining qualifiers for today’s final are USA’s Moushami Robinson (52.23), Cuba’s Libania Grenot (52.37) and Jamaica’s Noviene Williams (52.76).
A clear favorite to the gold medal, Cuba’s Osleidys Menendez was far from the best form and was only third in the Javelin throw with 60.20, behind USA’s Kim Kreiner (60.86) and Bahamas’ Laverne Eve (60.68).
Menendez, who could not compete on the European tour due to visa problems, took the lead in the first round with her only throw over 60 metres. But Eve, the Commonwealth champion responded with 60.42 on her second attempt.
In the fifth round, Kreiner produced a season best of 60.86 to secure the gold medal, as Eve’s final effort of 60.68 was not enough to improve on her silver medal.
"Osleidys did not have a good night. It was a great honour to compete with her and a great privilege to win a contest in which she participated”, comented a happy Kreiner.
The only Latin American women to ever break a world senior record could hardly speak to the press and cried, knowing that his compatriots expected a secure title from the 23-year old.
“I’ll take revenge in Paris”, she said. She had only competed once this season, when claiming the national title with 63.96 in late May. Her last loss was on December 1, 2002, to her compatriot Sonia Bicet.
But the compensation for Cuba came in the women’s 1500 and Shot Put finals, in which Adriana Muñoz and Yumileidi Cumba won.
Muñoz, 21, winner of the 800m silver medal the previous day, was led most of the way by the top two favourites, Jamaica’s Madrea Hyman and USA’s Mary Jayne Harrelson. Then in the final 100 metres, she found space between her two main rivals and launched a fast finish to win in 4:09.57, ahead of Harrelson (4:09.72) and Hyman (4:10.08).
Coming to Santo Domingo with a personal best of 4:15.43, the athlete from Santiago de Cuba smashed Ana Fidelia Quirot’s national record of 4:13.08, set in 1997.
“The race followed the pace I expected and I tried to stay with the leaders. I waited to see what could happen in the final metres. I decided to attack and it worked out. This is the best result I have achieved in my life and I could not have a better reward for such a hard training during the year”, a happy Muñoz stated.
A World and Olympic finalist, Yumileidi Cumba finally reached the highest position of the podium, after a bronze medal in Mar del Plata 1995 and a silver in Winnipeg 1999.
She opened her series with 19.14 and finished with 19.31, only 0.02 short of the Games record, owned by her countrywoman Maria Elena Sarria since Caracas 1983.
Brazil’s Elisangela de Adriano finished second with 18.48 in her first attempt, while Flor Vasquez improved her national record to 18.14, providing the first medal in Pan American athletics by a Dominican woman.
Thursday represented a great day for Latin American athletes as Venezuela’s Nestor Nieves and Mexico’s Teodoro Vega dominated the 3000m steeplechase and the 10 000m, respectively.
Nieves stayed just behind Canada’s defending champion Joël Bourgeois. He sped up the pace with 500 metres to go, but the Canadian regained the lead.
The South American waited until the final 100 metres to launch an unchallenged sprint, completing the seven and a half lap race in 8.34.26. The final kilometer was run in 2:46.31.
Nieves won Venezuela’s first title in Pan Am athletics since Rafael Romero’s 200m win in Sao Paulo 1963. Puerto Rico’s Alexander Greaux, another strong medal contender, fell after passing a barrier with 4:28 minutes into the race and was left out contention.
In the 10,000m, Mexicans avenged their loss to the Brazilians in the 5000, as Teodoro Vega’s final sprint prevailed over Brazil’s Marilson Dos Santos during a consistent rain shower that fell over the Juan Pablo Duarte stadium. Only 0.10 seconds separated both runners: 28:49.38 to 28:49.48. USA’s Daniel Browne grabbed the bronze after a 29:06.23-minute effort.
“This gold medal means a lot to me and it is a great motivation to move on and aim for new goals. The race was more tactical due to the quality of the field. The final part was very intense and my legs responded. The rain influced, but the weather affects all and I just focused on preserving the advantage”, said Vega, who won Mexico’s third gold medal in athletics, following Victoria Palacios and Adriana Fernandez wins in the 20km walk and the 5000m.
Argentina won its first men’s athletics title in 40 years, when Juan Ignacio Cerra threw the Hammer to 75.53m and defeated USA’s Champion James Parker (74.35) and John McEwen (71.49).
Based on a good technique and his mental strength, the 26-year old from Santa Fe improved from a third place in Winnipeg and the win came a year after suffering a motorcycle accident that severely affected his right knee.
The South American record holder (76.42) dedicated his medal to all his compatriots affected by the floods of the Salado River last year and praised his teammate Adrián Marzo, who placed sixth with 68.65.
The men’s Pole Vault final was postponed to Friday due to the rain on a day when no Games records fell.
In the semi-finals, Grenada’s Alleyne Francique posted the fastest time in the 400m when winning the second heat in 45.32. Cuba’s Yerman Lopez (45.69), Jamaica’s Michel Campbell (45.79) and Davian Clarke (45.93), Canada’s Shane Niemi (45.89), Dominican Republic’s Carlos Santa (45.82) and USA’s Mitch Potter (45.62) and Adam Steele (45.83) also made it to the final round.
In the 200m, the quickest men were USA’s Kenny Brokenburr (20.43), Brazil’s Andre da Silva (20.70) and Jamaica’s 2001 Edmonton World Championships silver medallist Christopher Williams (20.71). The women were led by Cuba’s Roxana Diaz (22.78), Cayman Islands’ Cydonie Mothersill (22.89) and USA’s World jJnior record holder Allison Felix (22.92).
After the first four events, USA’s Tiffany Lott-Hogan leads the Heptathlon with 3636 points, followed by Cuba’s defending champion Magalys Garcia (3613) and Canada’s Nicole Hayes (3523).
Nine finals will be contested on the penultimate day of athletics: the women’s 200 and 400m, High Jump and Heptathlon as well as the men’s 200 and 400m, Pole vault, Discus and 50 km Walk. The sprint hurdles semifinals will be also held.
The main attraction will be centred on Mexico’s Ana Guevara in the 400 metres, the home favourite Juana Arrendel in the High Jump. Cuba’s Olympic 110m Hurdles champion Anier Garcia, and this season's fastest woman in the 100m Hurdles, Brigitte Foster of Jamaica.
Medallists on the third day of athletics in the Pan American Games:
Men
10,000 metres:
1. Teodoro Vega (MEX) 28:49.38
2. Marilson Dos Santos (BRA) 28:49.48
3. Daniel Browne (USA) 29:06.23
3000 metres Steeplechase:
1. Nestor Nieves (VEN) 8:34.26
2. Joel Bourgeois (CAN) 8:36.78
3. Anthony Famiglietti (USA) 8:40.22
Hammer throw:
1. Juan I. Cerra (ARG) 75.53
2. James Parker (USA) 74.35
3. John McEwen (USA) 71.49
Women
1.500 metres
1. Adriana Muñoz (CUB) 4:09.57
2. Mary Jane Harrelson (USA) 4:09.72
3. Madrea Hyman (JAM) 4:10.08
Shot Put:
1. Yumileidi Cumba (CUB) 19.31
2. Elisangela Adriano (BRA) 18.48
3. Flor Vásquez (DOM) 18.14
Javelin
1. Kim Kreiner (USA) 60.86
2. Lavern Eve (BAH) 60.68
3. Osleidys Menendez (CUB) 60.20
