SANTIAGO — Team USATF's women earned two bronze medals and shared in a third on the first day of track and field action at the 19th Pan American Games at National Stadium. Cool and overcast conditions weren't optimal, but an enthusiastic crowd helped spur athletes from North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean to impressive late-season efforts. USATF Cross Country champion Ednah Kurgat was in the lead group through a very slow early half of the women's 10,000, passing by 5000 in over 17 minutes. She held her position until Peru's Luz Rojas made a big break with 2400 to go, and then she and Mexico's Laura Galvan battled it out over the final five laps, with Galvan just a bit quicker. Rojas was an easy winner in 33:12.99, with Galvan getting silver in 33:15.85 and Kurgat picking up Team USATF's first medal of the Games with a bronze in 33:16.61. Shortly after Kurgat's track bronze, Tiffany Flynn earned bronze in the women's long jump with a first round leap of 6.40/21-0. Colombia's Natalia Linares secured gold with a 6.66/21-10.25 effort in the third round, and Brazil's Eliane Martins earned silver at 6.49/21-3.5. Jasmine Todd had three fouls. Sitting fourth with a lot of ground to make up on the final lap of the mixed 4x400 relay, Jada Griffin turned in a stellar 51.14 anchor leg to bring Team USATF into bronze medal position, crossing the line in 3:19.41. Demarius Smith handed off near the front of the field on the leadoff leg with a 46.9 carry, but Honour Finley's 54.2 second leg dropped the team back into the middle of the pack. Richard Johnson clocked 47.0 on the third circuit before handing off to Griffin, who surged past the Cuban anchor in the final stretch to claim third. Host country Chile got on the podium with gold in the men's discus as Lucas Nervi hurled the platter 63.39/207-11 in round three. Joseph Brown was the top American in fifth at 60.14/197-4, with Dallin Shurts eighth at 57.00/187-0. Elena Bruckner had her best attempt of 57.61/189-0 in round two of the women's discus and ended up sixth, while Veronica Fraley fouled all her three attempts. After the first day's events in the men's decathlon, Sam Black topped the points table with 4,160 on the strength of good performances in the shot put and high jump. Ryan Talbot raced to a win in the final event of the day, clocking 49.05 in the 400 to tally 3,879 in seventh place. In track prelims, Richard Johnson cruised into the men's 400 final with a 47.36 in the second semi. Chris Royster missed advancing to the men's 100 final, placing ninth overall at 10.38, while U.S. women suffered the same fate in their heats. Kennedy Blackmon was 12th overall at 11.74 and Kortnei Johnson took 16th in 11.83.
Gold: 0 Silver: 0 Bronze: 3 Fans can watch at panamsportschannel.org and follow results here.