Cuban Yunisleidy de la Caridad García won the gold medal in the women’s 100 meter dash, to the surprise of all and sundry.
García, in the race of her life, stopped the clocks at 11.36 seconds, to overtake Guyanese Jasmine Abrams (11.52), silver, and favorite and Trinidadian veteran Michelle-lee Raquel Sean Ahye (11.53), bronze.
Meanwhile, the American Kasey Knevelbaard won the title in five thousand meters.
The Mexican Fernando Martínez won the race, but was disqualified for blocking (with his arm) Knevelbaard, who in this way was able to access the throne of the specialty.
Martínez crossed the finish line with a winning time of 14:47.68 minutes, just one hundredth ahead of the American (14:47.69).
In the end, Knevelbaard won gold, Canadian Charles Philibert-Thiboutot (14:48.02) took silver, and Brazilian Altobeli Da Silva (14:48.18) took bronze.
For the United States and Cuba, the great athletics dominators in the history of the Pan American Games, this represents their first gold scrolls on the field and track at Santiago 2023.
Also this Tuesday, Dominican José González ascended to the throne in the 100 meter dash in a photo finish.
Despite recording the worst start of the eight contestants, González stopped the clocks at 10.30 seconds and edged out Brazilian Felipe Bardi (10.31) and Guyanese Emanuel Archivald (10.31), silver and bronze by a hair. , respectively.
In another final today, Colombian Arnovis de Jesús Dalmero ascended to the long jump throne.
In his second attempt, Dalmero achieved his winning jump, to take the crown in a specialty traditionally dominated by Cubans and Americans, although the coffee grower arrived at the competition with a personal best record of the year among all participants.
Precisely, the Cubans Alejandro Parada and Maikel Vidal shared the silver and bronze metals, both with a record of 8.01 meters, but the first had the second best jump (8.00) that decided the final position.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, the finals are planned for the hammer throw (f), 100 and 110 hurdles, and the 400 meters for both men.
