Regis and Francique into the history books...first Grenadians to medal at Pan Am Games

by Michael Bascombe

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – Grenada and St Lucia won their first ever medals at the Pan American Games on the penultimate day of track and field competition at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Stadium on Friday.

 Grenada’s Hazel-Ann Regis and Alleyne Francique added silver and bronze respectively to their Central American and Caribbean (CAC) gold medals while former CAC champion Dominic Johnson of St Lucia secured bronze in the men’s pole vault.

 Regis (51.56) copped second spot behind world’s champion Ana Guevara of Mexico (50.36) and Commonwealth Games champion Aliann Pompey was third in 52.06. Jamaica’s Novlene (52.83) and Michelle Burgher (53.26) were sixth and eighth respectively.

 "I felt happy because I made my country proud. My time wasn't as good as I wanted it to be but I was just thinking about getting a medal for my country," Regis told GrenadaSports on Friday night.

 "My biggest fear in the race was Ana (Guevara). I wasn't worrying about Aliann (Pompey) because I knew I could run faster than her but I had feared the world's fastest but I was also here to compete."

 Regis, who is hoping to better her performance at the World Championships in Paris,  admitted that she is not in top shape.

 "I would just go out and do exactly what I did here, just perform at my best level and whatever the outcome is I guess I will be happy," she said.  

 In the men’s version of the one-lap event Francique, a pre-race favourite, took the bronze behind Mitchell Potter of the United States (45.11).

 Potter, running in lane four, surprised the field by holding off Cuba’s Yerman Lopez at the wire. Lopez, running in lane six, was timed in 45.13 while Francique clocked 45.51.

 Michael Campbell (46.10) and Davian Clarke (4.17) of Jamaica were seventh and eighth in the final.

 Francique is also proud of being Grenada's first male athlete to win a medal at this continental games.

 "Every time you step into a race you want to win and I had a good chance of winning the gold but I just blew it but the guys who ran against me ran a good race."

 "My goal is to go to the World Championships and make the final again and then take it from there," Francique said.

 The world fifth-ranked 400m CAC champion appreciates the support from his country.

"I am a Grenadian to the heart and I am the only Grenadian athlete on the professional circuit so I try to market Grenada as much as possible," he said.

 Johnson (St Lucia) remained at 5.40m as Toby Stevenson (5.45) and Russ Buller (5.40) gave the USA a one-two finish in the pole vault.

 The Caribbean also picked up silver medals in the 200 metres as CAC champion Cydonie Mothersille of the Cayman Islands (22.86) finished second to Cuba’s Roxana Diaz (22.69) while seventeen-year-old Allyson Felix of the USA finished third in 22.93 to earn the bronze medal. Felix ran the fastest 200 time in the world this season of 22.11 en route to winning the Grand Prix Banamex in Mexico City on May 3.

 Daniele Browning of Jamaica (23.46) and Judith Kitson (23.80) also of Jamaica were sixth and eighth in the final positions.

 The Caribbean with four finalists in the men’s 200m only managed a silver medal through Christopher Williams of Jamaica. USA’s Kenny Brokenburr was first to the tape in 20.42 with Williams clocking 20.54 and Andre Da Silva of Brazil (20.68) was third.

 Julieon Raeburn of Trinidad and Tobago (20.93) and Kevin Arthurton (21.02) finished sixth and eighth respectively.

 Jamaica’s Suzette Lee fell from second position following the first round to finish fourth with 13.83m. Lee’s compatriot Colleen Scott finished seventh with a distance of 13.63. Mabel Gay of Cuba won the jump with a personal best of 14.42, American Yuliana Perez (13.99) finished second and Yusmay Bicet of Cuba (13.90) was third.

 Laverne Spencer of St Lucia (1.83), Jamaican Peaches Roach (1.80) and Desiree Crichlow of Barbados (1.75) were out of medal contention in the women’s high jump.

 Grenada’s Alleyne Lett was far from his season best of 55.36 in the men’s discus. Lett was 10^th with 47.22.

 Trinidad and Tobago, winner of heat two in 38.97, Jamaica (39.02), Bahamas (39.91) and St Kitts and Nevis (40.37) qualified for the men’s 4x100 relay on Saturday.

 Despite a late lineup change, the United States posted the fifth fastest time in the world this year in 38.59 to lead qualifying into the final.

 Jamaica’s Brigite Foster (12.66) was among the fastest qualifiers for the women’s 100m hurdles final with a new games record. Lacena Golding-Clarke, also of Jamaica, qualified for Saturday’s final.