USA Wins Three of First Four Events As Pan Am Games Get Underway
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, August 11. THE United States captured seven of 12 medals, three of them gold, and set two more Pan Am meet records in starting off the 14th Pan American Games in strong fashion.
In the women's 100 freestyle, 2000 Olympian Courtney Shealy led the first of two straight 1-2 sweeps in winning the event in 55.61. Christina Swindle, finished in a second place tie with Argentina's Florencia Szigetti, who swims for Arizona State University, in 55.92.
In the men's 100 breaststroke, Mark Gangloff recorded his first sub-1:01 effort in breaking Ed Moses' meet record (1:00.99 in 1999) with a time of 1:00.95. Gangloff took the early lead in 28.70 and was in control the entire way. His teammate, Jarrod Marrs finished second in 1:01.71 just slightly ahead of Brazil's Eduardo Fischer who captured the bronze medal.
In the women's 400 IM; Argentina's Georgina Bardach split a 1:19.47 on the breaststroke leg to overtake American Kristen Caverly and capture her nation's first gold medal of the competition. Caverly held off Brazilian Joanna Melo to earn the silver in 4:46.18 with Melo finishing in 4:46.38. American Andrea Cassiday finished fifth in 4:49.74.
The men's 200 freestyle saw another new nation top the victory stand as Trinidad & Tobago's George Bovell, a sophomore at Auburn University, earned gold in 1:48.90. Bovell was out in a swift 52.90, but, had to hold off a fast-charging Dan Ketchum of the United States who came home the final 50 in 27.60 to just fall short but still earning the silver in 1:49.34, a career best. Brazilian Rodrigo Castro was third in 1:49.55. American Jeff Lee finished fourth in 1:50.76.
The USA closed out the evening setting a new Games record in the women's 4 x 200 free relay in 8:05.47. The team of Dana Vollmer (2:00.56), Elizabeth Hill (2:01.60), Carly Piper (2:01.90) and Colleen Lanne (2:01.41) outdistanced secondd place Brazil by over 5 seconds. Canada earned the bronze medal.
2003 PAN-AM GAMES
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
AUG. 11, 2003
50 M POOL
RESULTS
DAY ONE: August 12, 2003
* Games Record
Women's 100m freestyle
1) Courtney Shealy – USA – 55.61
2) Christina Swindle – USA – 55.92
2) Florencia Szigeti – ARG – 55.92 (So. Amer. record)
4) Flavia Delaroli – BRA – 56.41
Men's 100m breaststroke
1) Mark Gangloff – USA – 1:00.95*
2) Jarrod Mars – USA – 1:01.71
3) Eduardo Fischer – BRA – 1:01.88 (So. Amer. record)
Women's 400m individual medley
1) Georgina Bardach – ARG – 4:43.40 (So. Amer. record)
2) Kristen Caverly – USA – 4:46.48
3) Joanna Maranhão – BRA – 4:46.38 NR
Men's 200m freestyle
1) George Bovell – TRI – 1:48.40 NR
2) Dan Ketchum – USA – 1:49.34
3) Rodrigo Castro – BRA – 1:49.55
Women's 4x200m freestyle relay
1) USA – 8:m05.47*
2) Brasil – 8:10.54 (So. Amer. record)
3) Canada – 8:10.85