Atkinson keeps medal hopes alive

Elton Tucker, Assistant Editor - Sport

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

Alia Atkinson, Jamaica's best hope for a medal in the pool at the XV Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, advanced to the semi-finals of both the women's 50 metres freestyle and 100m butterfly last night.

Also advancing to this morning's semi-finals of the 50m freestyle is 16-year-old Natasha Moodie.

In her first swim yesterday, 18-year-old Atkinson was fifth in heat three of the 50m in 26.71 seconds to qualify in 13th spot overall. Moodie was sixth in her heat in 26.85 and joint 15th overall.

Atkinson then placed third in heat three of the 100m butterfly in 1:02.91 to be sixth overall.

The fastest qualifier in the 50m is Flavia Delaroli of Brazil, who won heat two in 25.35.

In the women's butterfly the leading qualifier is American Kathleen Hersey with 59.99, the only swimmer to get below one minute in the event. The finals of both events will be tomorrow.

Brad Hamilton did not advance from the heats of either the men's 100m butterfly or 100m breaststroke. He was sixth in heat one of the men's butterfly and 18th overall.

His time was 57.07 seconds.

In the 100m breaststroke Hamilton was seventh in heat two in 1:10.57. He was 19th overall.

DISAPPOINTED

In cycling a bitterly disappointed Ricardo Lynch blamed 'lack of focus' after he crashed out of the men's match sprint.

Lynch, who was highly favoured by his camp to get a medal in the event, failed to get past the first round and left his manager Vaughn Phang searching for words to describe the performance.

"This is not his strongest event, but we were looking for him to move up further," Phang said. "His times on a wooden (indoor) track like this are much better and he is one of the highest ranked sprinters here.

"Right now what we have to do is try to get him ready for his next event which is the keirin on Thursday and hopefully everything will work out for him."

Lynch admitted that he was not looking at getting just any medal.

"Actually I was hoping to win this thing," he said. "In the lead up while training in Colorado the times were good and I felt really strong but coming here ... I just had a bad day."

Lynch who had the 11th fastest qualifying time (11.298 seconds) among the top 12, was drawn against Colombia's Hernan Castillo Sanchez in the first round and he lost easily.

The six losers from the first round then competed in the repechage (a ride-off with three cyclists in each group) to decide the last two quarter-finalists and Lynch lost out to Sergio Guatto of Argentina.

Earlier yesterday in an 11 a.m. match-up taekwondo competitor Kenneth Edwards was outclassed by Venezuela's Carlos Vasquez in the men's under-80kg round of 16.

Edwards, a 21-year-old University of Technology (UTech) business student, was never in the bout and was blanked 5-0 and eliminated from the competition. He fell behind early to the wily Venezuelan and in the third of three two-minute rounds Edwards went repeatedly, without success, to the Venezuelan's head and he tried to gain the bonus two points.

GIRLZ DRAW

In women's football the Reggae Girlz were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Uruguay as they continued to find it difficult to score goals.

The Girlz, who scored once to beat Ecuador in their opening match and were then blanked 5-0 by Brazil, had to rely on an own goal to salvage yesterday's point.

Uruguyan defender Padron put the ball into her own net in the seventh minute. Juliana Castro equalised from the penalty spot for Uruguay in the 67th minute.

Both teams ended the game with 10 players. Uruguay's Aida Camano was sent off in the 23rd minute, while Jamaica's Nicola Bell, a second half substitute, was shown the red card in the 60th minute.

The Reggae Girlz with four points will next oppose Canada (six points) tomorrow in a game which could decide one of the semi-finalists. Canada, who had earlier beaten Uruguay 7-0, went on another goal spree yesterday, blanking Ecuador 4-0.