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Cuban female triple jump stars Yargelis Savinge and Mabel Gay fell victims to Colombia’s Catherine Ibarguen yesterday at the 16th Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Nonetheless, the Spanish-speaking nation brought the day’s competition to a close with victories in both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relay, and a stack of 18 gold, 6 silver and 9 bronze medals in track and field, ahead of Brazil’s 9-6-7 and the USA’s 4-8-4.
Starting out the day with gold and a Games record by Yarelys Barrios in the women’s discus and another gold and Games record by Lazaro Borges in the men’s pole vault, the Cubans soon followed up with a third gold and Games record by Olympic champion and world record holder Dayron Robles in the 110m hurdles, and yet another gold medal in the men’s 800m. Robles, whose win in Daegu was disqualified for impeding another competitor, erased the previous record of 13.17secs, set by his countryman and 2000 Olympic champion Anier Garcia in Winnipeg 1999.
Cuba’s string of wins and Games records was then interrupted by a US victory in the women’s steeplechase, in which Cuba had no competitor.
Returning from Injury
In the women’s triple jump, Ibarguen, the Daegu bronze medalist, defeated Cuba’s two-time former World champion and Pan-Am defending champion Savigne by setting a new continental mark of 14.92m. The previous Games record was 14.80m, set by Savigne in Rio 2007.
Returning to competition after sustaining a muscle injury at the World Championships, Savigne managed only 14.36m for silver ahead of her compatriot and 2009 World silver medalist Mabel Gay (14.28m), who took the bronze.
Meanwhile, Jamaica entered the Games with high expectations but ended its participation on a disappointing note, particularly in the relays where the country is usually strong.
On Thursday, the Jamaican 4x1 men crossed the line first in their heat but were disqualified for passing the baton outside the zone on the second exchange. Yesterday, the women's 4x1 team failed to get the baton beyond the first exchange with a horrible foul-up between college teammates starter Ornella Livingston and Anastasia LeRoy. The men's 4x4 team was withdrawn from the final due to an injury to one of its key runners, 200m silver medalist Lansford Spence. A women’s 4x4 team was not entered.
Jamaica took home one gold, five silver one bronze in track and field.
The Games continue this evening with the Men's 50km Walk and end tomorrow with the men's marathon at 8 p.m.
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