Three More Gold, Two More Records for US Swimmers at Pan Ams
SANTO DOMINGO, August 16. EVEN though other US Pan Am teams have finished their competitions and are boarding the nightly charter flights back to the States, the USA Swim team remains focused on the business at hand and continues to perform in a dominant fashion at the Aquatic Center.
Friday night, the US captured four more gold medals and nine total medals to run their five day totals to 15 and 31 respectively with one final day remaining. The US also set two more Pan Am records on Friday evening as well.
Michael Raab broke his own Pan Am Games record in the 200 butterfly that he established in the preliminaries in winning gold in 1:57.33. Teammate Eric Donnelly finished out of the money in fifth place in 2:00.04. The other two medals went to Brazilians Kaio Almeda (1:58.10) and Pedro Monteiro (1:59.30).
In the men's 100 meter backstroke the Stanford duo of Peter Marshall and Jayme Cramer earned two medals for the US. Marshall grabbed the gold in 55.52; while Cramer earned bronze in 55.88. George Bovell of Trinidad & Tobago, having an excellent meet thus far split the two Americans in 55.81.
In the women's 800 meter freestyle, the US earned a 1-2 sweep as both Morgan Hentzen and Rachael Burke swam stroke for stroke the entire way. Hentzen earned the gold with a 8:36.54 clocking with Burke right behind at 8:37.61. Both girls earning personal bests in the event. Kristal Kobrich of Chile earned the bronze meal.
The women's 200 individual medley saw two more medals added to the US tally. Corrie Clark (2:16.78) who earned a silver medal in the 100 breaststroke earned another with a second place finish in the 200 individual medley. Her teammate, Laura Davis, earned her first medal finishing third in the event in 2:17.33. Canadian Olympian Joann Malar, returning from nearly two years of retirement, earned her nation's first gold in winning the event in 2:15.93.
The 50 free was a confrontation of three of the world's premier sprint men and the medals were decided by .03. Brazilian Fernando Scherer successfully defended his Pan Am title in 22.40 with Argentinian Jose Meolans (22.42) and American Gary Hall, Jr. (22.43) within an eyelash of the title.
The night ended in recording breaking fashion as the US women's 4 x 100 medley relay finished a clean sweep of the women's relays with a new Games record and the 5th fastest time in the world at 4:05.92. The wining relay was comprised of Diana McManus, Staciana Stitts, Dana Vollmer and Amanda Weir, The US women enter the final evening having captured 11 gold medals in 13 events.
Day 5 Results
Women´s 200m Individual Medley
1. Joanne Malar, CAN, 2:15.93
2. Corrie Clark, Malvern, Pa., 2:16:78
3. Laura Davis, Concord, Calif, 2:17:33
Men´s 200m Butterfly
1. Michael Raab, Rockville, Md., 1:57:33
2. Kaio Almeida, BRA, 1:58:10
3. Pedro Monteiro, BRA, 1:59:30
Men`s 100m Backstroke
1. Peter Marshall, Atlanta, Ga., 55.52
2. George Bovell, TRI, 55.81
3. Jayme Cramer, Cincinnati, Ohio, 55.88
Women`s 800m Freestyle
1. Morgan Hentzen, La Habra Heights, Calif., 8:36.54
2. Rachael Burke, Bethesda, Md., 8:37.61
3. Kristel Kobrich, CHI, 8:43.90
Men´s 50m Freestyle
1. Fernando Scherer, BRA, 22.40
2. Jose Meolans, ARG, 22.42
3. Gary Hall, Jr., Miami, Fla., 22.43
Women´s 400m Medley Relay
1. USA (Diana MacManus, Irvine, Calif.; Staciana Stitts, Encinitas, Calif.; Dana Vollmer, Ft. Worth, Tex.; Amanda Weir, Atlanta, Ga.), 4:05.92
2. CAN, 4:13.72
3. MEX, 4:18.04