RHC Special: Winnipeg'99-Pan Am Games 7/29/99 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit ............................................................... CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org SPECIAL / WINNIPEG '99 / CUBA AT THE PANAMERICAN GAMES Thursday, 29 July 1999 The following is a summary of Cuba's participation at the Panamerican Games in Winnipeg, Canada. -------------------------------------------------------- Cuba harvested 5 gold, 7 silver and 6 bronze during Wednesday's Panam finals. In track and field, the island set three new Panam records, while cycling provided the 4th record of the day. And there were setbacks in baseball and volleyball. Cuban athletes kept busy in Winnipeg and yesterday they collected a total of 18 medals, five of them gold and four were new Panamerican records. The performance of Cuban track and field athletes can be described as outstanding, especially for three women who were the record protagonists, allowing Cuba to climb to the second position by countries in that discipline. Magaly Garcia opened the gold harvest by becoming the most complete athlete, winning women's heptathlon and setting a record for the games with a total of 6,290 points. She left the other two places for U.S. athletes. Garcia won bronze at the Havana 1991 games, then four years later was second, though the competition was not valid due to the reduced number of participants. Finally her dream came true yesterday. The second gold and record was established by 19-year-old runner Daimi Permia in women's 400 meter hurdles. She changed the book of records with 53.44 seconds, considered the second best time of the year. Only a month ago, Permia was crowned at the Palma de Mallorca World University Games with 53.99 seconds, valid also for a record in that competition. Women's triple jump provided two medals for the Cuban delegation. Madelin Martinez with 13.98 meters was a bronze medal winner, while Yamile Aldama conquered gold and set a new Panam record with 14.77 meters. The fourth record achieved by Cuban athletes in Winnipeg was established by cyclist Julio Herrera in men's 1 kilometer time trial with one minute and 4.487 seconds. Herrera broke a 24- year-old record. The fifth gold medal grabbed by the Cuban delegation was in free style wrestling -- where Wilfredo Garcia upped Canadian Paul Ragusa in the 54 kilo division. And while Greco-Roman wrestlers dominated in their modality, their free style team-mates bathed in silver with five. The harvest was completed with one gold and one bronze. As predicted, Cuba dominated in Greco-Roman and the U.S. in free. The remaining silver medals came in men's discus throw with Alexis Elizalde's 61.99 meters and Jose Guerra in men's 3 meter platform in men's diving. The bronze count was six and were supplied by triple jump, wrestling, cycling and rowing. Despite the joy provided by some disciplines to the island, the defeats in baseball and women's volleyball put a sad note to the day. Cuba fell to Brazil in volleyball three sets to two. Cuba classified for the semi-finals in the group's second place. In baseball, the United States put an end to a string of Cuban victories, 10-5. The last time the two teams were face to face in Panam games was in the 1991 Havana edition where Cuba won 3-2. Before that in 1987, Cuba got gold 13-9 against the U.S., after losing one classification game. Cuba has been the Panam super power with 9 out of 12 titles -- including the last seven editions. The greatest challenge at Winnipeg '99 is to face professional players for the first time within this context. The only time the United States won the Panamerican gold in baseball was 32 years ago during the Winnipeg '67 games, winning 2-1 in a three game series. On Wednesday, Cuban pitching was not good enough to control the rivals, who connected 19 hits and made 5 runs in the 9th inning. Cuba had managed to tie the game at 5 in the bottom of the 8th inning, but went blank during its last time at bat. Cuba plays against Canada today. We will have to wait for all of the day's results since there is a possibility of a triple tie. In that case, then the balance of runs against and in favor decide the classification. Quarter finals will be played under the sudden death system: you lose, you're out. The Panamerican champion will be crowned August 2nd. [c] 1999, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. This prohibition includes the distribution of this material via Usenet News, "bulletin board" services, e-mail lists, print media, radio and television. 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