Krishmar Santokie pulls and misses outside the offstump during his innings of 74 against Windward Islands at Port Esquivel yesterday. - Junior Dowie photoElton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
MANCHESTER, England:
JAMAICA celebrated its first-ever Commonwealth Games swimming medal at the Manchester Aquatics Centre here last night.
Cheered on by her flag-waving teammates and other members of Jamaica's contingent, Janelle Atkinson, an Olympic 400m freestyle finalist two years ago, clocked 8:36.23 to pocket the women's 800m freestyle bronze medal. Pre-race favourite and hometown girl Rebecca Cooke took the gold in 8:28.54 while Australia's Amanda Cooke earned silver in 8:34.19.
Jamaica's medal tally at the Games now stands at four gold, six silver and five bronze. Fourteen of the 15 medals were won in the track and field competition that ended on Wednesday.
Atkinson said her time, though below her best, surpassed her expectations as she had injury problems coming into the Games.
"I will have a minor operation on my shoulder later this month as it affected my preparations," she said. Atkinson added, however, that she expected to do very well in today's 400m freestyle as it is now 'her best race'. The heats are on this morning with the final set for tonight.
The 19-year-old was fourth in the final at the 2000 Olympics.
Two other Jamaican swimmers, Mariana Chuck and Ramon James, got to the semi-finals of their events before bowing out. Chuck reached the last 16 of the women's 50m backstroke but was eliminated after placing eighth in semi-final two in 32.57.
James was also eighth in semi-final one of the men's 100m backstroke in 1:01.08. The winner, Australia's Ian Thorpe, clocked 56.49.
Angella Chuck and Tamara Swaby were first and second respectively in heat two of the women's 50m freestyle but both failed to advance to the semi-finals. Chuck's 27.09 placed her 22nd, while Swaby's 27.25 was only good enough for 25th.
Jamaica's netballers will seek the bronze medal in a showdown against hosts England tomorrow after they went down 69-51 (17-10, 17-15, 15-14, 20-12) to New Zealand in yesterday's first semi-final.
Jamaica who were seeking to win only their second game in 32 matches against the Kiwis, came out a bit cold and fell behind by seven in the first quarter. From then on the winners kept control of the game despite some brilliant play by the Sunshine Girls' defenders Georgia Gordon and Oberon Pitterson in the second and third quarters.
Gordon and Pitterson made several interceptions to keep Jamaica in the game and they reduced the deficit to six with 3.04 left in the third quarter. The effort eventually took its toll and New Zealand pulled away in the fourth quarter for an easy win.
Goal-shooter Elaine Davis scored 28 of 33 attempts and goal-attack Simone Forbes 23 of 25. New Zealand's Irene van Dyk had a game high 41 goals from 48 attempts.
England were beaten 49-38 by Australia in the second semi-final. The third place play-off is on at 11:00 a.m. (5:00 a.m. Ja time) tomorrow with the gold medal match at 1:00 p.m. (7:00 a.m. Ja time).
In cycling, Jamaica's Team Sprint trio, Horace McFarlane, Ricardo Lynch and Chris Tavares-Finson were ninth of 10 in 52.748 during qualification ride. Australia's Jobie Dajka, Sean Eadie and Ryan Bailey won gold late yesterday in 44.506.
Shooters David Rickman 389.35 (29th of 44) and Carl Smith 376.34 (34th) were well down the ladder in the men's Open Full Bore Rifle singles.David Calvert of Northern Ireland won gold with a score of 404.62.
