Antigua and Barbuda's Brendan Christian (009) (left) crosses the finish line to win the gold medal in the men's 200 metres at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. Second was Jamaica's Marvin Anderson (437). - AP

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

Jamaica won three silver medals yesterday, two in track and field and the other in football, to bring their tally at the XV Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro to eight.

Sheri-Ann Brooks and Marvin Anderson captured silver medals in the women's and men's 200 metres final respectively, while the Young Reggae Boyz lost out, 2-1, to Ecuador in the football final.

The island's full medal tally is now two gold, five silver andone bronze.

Brooks, who clocked 22.92 seconds, led to the last five metres before she was overtaken by a fast-finishing Roxana Diaz of Cuba. The winner crossed the line in 22.90 while Grenada's Sherry Fletcher held on for bronze in 22.96. Aleen Bailey was fifth in 23.09.

In the men's event, Anderson (20.38) was also just beaten by Brendan Christian who gave the small eastern Caribbean island of Antigua their first-ever gold medal at the Pan American Games.

Christian, who clocked 20.37, held on grimly after he was challenged strongly from 20 metres out by Anderson. The two hit the line together but Christian got the nod by one-hundredth of a second. Rubin Williams of the United States was thirdin 20.57.

Anderson was disappointed to get second but felt he had done his best.

"Whenever you go to a big championships and you medal, you have got to be satisfied. I am pleased but I could have done way better. It was kind of cold and I could not get my legs going."

Looking ahead to the World Championships, Anderson said he should be ready.

"This is good preparation as we have gone through the rounds at a major championships," Anderson added. Jamaica finished out of the medals in three other finals.

Dean Griffiths, a bronze medallist in Santo Domingo four years ago, was fifth in the men's 400m hurdles in a season-best 49.30. Canada's Adam Kunkel ran a strong race to pocket gold in a personal best 48.24 from Panama's Bayano Kamani (48.70) and Laron Bennett of the United States, 49.07. Former champion Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic was let down by his hurdling and finished fourth in 49.28.

In the women's shot put Zara Northover and Nadia Alexander were ninth and 10th respectively. Northover got up to 15.90m and Alexander threw 15.82m. Cuba's Misleydis Gonzalez won with 18.83m.

Tanice Barnett did a personal best 4:23.14 in the women's 1500m final, but this was only good enough for ninth of the 10 runners. Brazil's Juliana won gold in 4:13.36.

Jamaica will be represented in three of four relays today, the final day of competition for the island's contingent here.

J'CAN QUARTET ADVANCE

The women's 4x100m quartet advanced after placing third in semi-final two in 44.12. The fastest qualifiers were the United States who won the heat in 43.98. The Jamaica quartet in running order was Tracy-Ann Rowe, Nadine Palmer, Peta Gaye Dowdie and Elva Goulbourne. The men's sprint relay, which was hit by late withdrawals, did not face the starter.

In the 4x400m, Jamaica's male team of Allodin Fothergill, Dwight Mullings, Edino Steele and Leford Green clocked 3:04.60 to win semi-final two. The leading qualifiers were The Bahamas who took semi-final one in 3:02.76.There were no heats in the women's 4x400m.

Aldwyn Sappleton also qualified for the men's 800m final after a very good personal best 1:46.84. He was second to Brazil's Fabiano Pecanha, 1:46.73, in semi-final three. Jamaica's second entrant, Andrae Drummond, did not advance after placing fourth in semi-final two in 1:50.03.

Jamaica will also be represented today in the men's 110m hurdles final by Eric Keddo, who was second in his semi-final in 13.79 behind American David Payne (13.77) and Jason Morgan and Hickel Woolery in the men's discus final.

- Elton Tucker