Jamaica's Janelle Atkinson in action yesterday at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo. - Reuters JAMAICA'S MEDAL tally inched up to 12 yesterday (four gold, two silver and six bronze) as action continued at the XIV Pan American Games being held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Yesterday, in men's doubles badminton semi-final action, Bradley Graham and Charles Pyle went down 2-1 (11-15, 15-5,14-17) to Alejandro Pedro Yang and Erick Anguiano of Guatemala. Despite the result, the duo salvaged a bronze medal for the country by virtue of reaching the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, swimming sensation Janelle Atkinson found it difficult to produce the medals she fished from the pool four years ago. Atkinson (4:15.99) finished fifth in yesterday's 400m freestyle final. It was the same event Atkinson narrowly missed a medal in at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney after placing fourth with a national record of 4:08.79.
Earlier in the eliminations she posted the fourth fastest time of 4:19.39 in winning her event.
Also last night, the women's 4x100 team comprising of Atkinson, Alia Atkinson, Tamara Swaby and Angella Chuck finished outside the medals after finishing well behind the US (3:41.93), Canada (3:46.65) and Brazil (3:47.05).
Jamaica, with a qualifying time of 3:54.00, had the fifth fastest time going into the event behind the US (3:40.23), Canada (3:42.22), Brazil (3:51.07) and Venezuela (3:53.83).
Today will see Janelle Atkinson contesting the 800m freestyle event, Alia Atkinson taking on the 100m breaststroke and Tamara Swaby in the 100m butterfly.
On Tuesday, Jamaica's squash team of Gillian Binnie, Marlene West and Karen Anderson lost their opening-round team game to Canada 2-1.
At press time last night, results were not available for the women's and the mixed doubles semi-finals. The former featured Nigella Saunders representing Jamaica. Her competitor was Sandra Jimeno of Peru. The duo of Pyne and Saunders played Canada's Mike Beres and Jody Patrick in mixed doubles semi-final action.
Cyclist Ricardo Lynch enjoyed yesterday topping his 200m flying start first round and the 1/8 end to qualify for the semi-finals of that event.
