Janelle Atkinson Shines at C. American-Caribbean Champs
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, July 7. UNIVERSITY of Florida's Janelle Atkinson has become a triple gold medalist at the Central American and Caribbean Championships here this week.
The Jamaica native, who was a multi-event NCAA finalist last March at East Meadow for Coach Greg Troy's Gators and was also Swimming World's prep Swimmer of the Year in 1999, set meet records in the 100 (57.58), 200 (2:02.57) and 800 meter freestyle (8:39.96) with today's and Sunday's competition
remaining.
Another American-trained collegian who set a meet record is George Mason's Alvaro Fortuny, who went a 1:05.38 to win the 100 breast. Fortuny represents Guatemala and won both breaststroke races at last February's Colonial Athletic COnference Championships and qualified for NCAAs.
The meet is underway at the same site that is scheduled to serve as host for the 2003 Pan-Am Games, which were last held in the Central American-Caribbean region a decade ago in Havana.