The 2019 Pan American Games entered its first night of competition in Peru, as athletes from the Americas convened for an intracontinental showdown. Positioned at the end of a climactic summer, the Games had much work to do in the immediate aftermath of the World Championships. In true form, however, the athletes delivered, kicking off the event in a way that sent shockwaves throughout the swimming community. A mere tease of what is to come, tonight’s events showcased the strength of the Americas, as Lima revs up for an exciting week of competition.
Despite adding some time from prelims, Olympic hopeful Annie Lazor brought home another gold for the U.S. in the women’s 100 breast, cruising to a 1:06.94 on a full stroke to cinch the win. After breaking the top twenty in the world this morning, Julia Sebastian (1:07.09) chased Lazor in the final, barely eclipsing the sub-1:07 mark to nab silver over Canada’s Faith Knelson (1:07.42).
Penn State alumnus Melissa Rodriguez represented Mexico from lane 6, clocking in at 1:07.74 to just miss the podium. J Alves went stroke for stroke with her at the flags, crashing the pads with a 1:08.00 to break into the top five over America’s Molly Hannis (1:08.32). Medina Gonzalez edged out her bookend in the first lane, Mercedes Toledo (1:10.20), for the penultimate spot with a time of 1:10.04.
GO Annie!
Yes!!!!! I hope she wins Gold in both events in 2020. Shes a class act ???