Pan Ams, Day Four: US Adds Three to Gold Medal Haul
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, August 14. UNITED States swimmers continued to rack up impressive performances with seven more medals, including three gold and two more Pan Am records during the fourth day of competition at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo.
The US has almost totally dominated the aquatic competition, and has now won 28 total medals with two days remaining: 14 gold, 12 silver and two bronze medals.
This evening, three new individuals collected their first gold medals of the competition. Bethany Goodwin cracked the one minute barrier for the first time in winning the women's 100 meter butterfly in 59.97 while teammate Dana Kirk garnered the bronze medal in 1:00.51. Staciana Stitts, captured her second straight Pan American Games gold medal in the 100 breaststroke, lowering her own record in 1:09.13 as teammate Corrie Clark finished right behind to earn silver in 1:10.09.
Not to be outdone, the US men finished 1-2 in the 200 meter breaststroke. 2000 US Olympian Kyle Salyards then lowered Mark Gangloff's 6 hour-old meet record in the 200 breaststroke. Gangloff recorded the 11th fastest time in US history, but could not advance as he was exhibition in the event. In the finals, Salyards clocked a 2:13.37 to claim gold and the new record. Teammate Sean Quinn provided one of the bigger thrills of the night when, seeded 7th entering the final and swimming in lane one, he rose to the occasion and after splitting 1:04.8 for a swift first 100 meters, he held on to claim a silver medal in 2:15.77.
Fran Crippen earned a silver medal in the 400 freestyle in 3:52.62 narrowly losing to Venezuelan (and Florida Gator) Ricardo Monasterio, who set a south American record with his winning 3:50.01. Davis Tarwater finished sixth in 3:58.37.
The men's 400 free relay of Nick Brunelli, Jayme Cramer, Tommy Hannan and Dan Ketchum dropped a hard fought race to the favored Brazilians only to learn that the US had been disqualified for an early takeoff during the race. Brazil clocked a swift 3:18.66.