The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE 19th Pan American Games continued yesterday in Santiago, Chile, which saw more Bahamians begin competition in tennis and swimming.

The latter began this weekend at the Centro Acuàtico en Nuñoa, Santiago, and more swimmers got in the water yesterday.

Meanwhile, in tennis, The Bahamas’ three representatives saw action at Centro Deportivo de Tenis in Ñuñoa yesterday.

Emmanuel Gadson finished eighth in heat four of the men’s 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:21.56. He then moved on to the same event in Final B where he placed eighth again with a faster time of 2:21.35. He ended ranked number 16 in the event.

Jack Barr competed in the men’s 800m freestyle and came fifth with a time of 9:03.54. He wrapped up ranked number 22 in the event.

National swimming champion Lamar Taylor hit the pool in the men’s heats for the 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle events. He finished fourth in the backstroke event with a time of 56.39. In the 100m freestyle, Taylor finished one position behind in fifth place, stopping the clock at 50.95. He ended the day ranked 13th and 16th in the aquatic events.

Zaylie Thompson came fifth in heat two of the women’s 100m freestyle. She ended the race with a time of 59.34 and was ranked number 29.

In relay action yesterday, the team of Ariel Weech, Katelyn Cabral, Victoria Russell, Gadson, Z Thompson, M Thompspon and Taylor competed together in the mixed 4x100m medley. They culminated heat two in fifth place with a collective time of 4:12.80. They concluded ranked eleventh.

Tennis

Singles matchups began for competitors Sydney Clarke, Kevin Major Jr and Justin Roberts.

Clarke battled against the United States of America’s Jamie Loeb. Her competitor won two sets to zero.

In set one, Loeb won 6-3 and she followed it up with a 6-0 victory in the final set.

Clarke went 41-for-46 on first serves for an average of 91 per cent. Her opponent averaged 97 per cent in the same category. Additionally, in points won on first serves, Clarke managed 20-for-41 for 49 per cent and Loeb notched 83 per cent going 29-for-35.

The lone female competitor for The Bahamas in the sporting discipline finished ranked number 17 in the women’s singles.

Playing on court two, Major Jr matched up with Mexico’s Alan Rubio. He fell 2-0 to his opponent in a match that lasted one hour and 11 minutes. Rubio took set one with a 6-3 score. In the following set, he won comfortably 6-0. Major and Rubio were neck and neck in the first serves stats. The Bahamian went 41-for-50 for 82 per cent and his competitor was one per cent better with 83. Mexico’s representative had the advantage in points won on first serves with 76 per cent and The Bahamas averaged 41 per cent.

The 28-year-old ended ranked number 33 in the men’s singles.

Roberts stepped on the court against Paraguay’s Daniel Vallejo. He fell 2-0 in two sets which went on for 1 hour and 34 minutes. Paraguay’s competitor snatched set one 6-1, and continued the pattern in set two winning 6-3. Vallejo won 61 per cent of his first serves, 78 per cent of points won on first serves, and 81 per cent on points won on second serves.

The three-member trio coached by Larikah Russell will take Tuesday off and compete again in the doubles matchups on Wednesday.

The swimming discipline continues today.