Guyana’s sprinters last evening lit up the Julio Martinez Stadium in Santiago, Chile venue of the 2023 pan American Games with Jasmine Abrams winning a silver medal and Emmanuel Archibald a bronze.
On a chilly night in Chile, it was the Guyanese sprint sensations, who sensationally surged to give this country its first two medals of the ongoing games.
First up was the women’s 100m final and judging from the previous day’s event where Jasmine Abrams produced the second fastest time in advancing to the final only behind Cuba’s Yunisleidy Garcia who clocked 11.53s, hopes were high in the Guyana camp of a medal at last.
Jasmine Abrams, the national 100m record holder did not disappoint clocking 11.52 seconds to claim the silver medal.
Cuba’s Garcia claimed the gold in 11.36s while Trinidad’s Michelle-Lee Ahye was third in 11.53s.
Next up was Archibald and he too was up to the task storming to a photo finish with Brazil’s Felipe Bardi, both sprinters clocking 10.31 seconds.
The winner Dominican Republic’s Jose Alnardo Gonzalez in 10.30s while Bardi was second and Archibald third.
“I expected to get first but getting third is not a bad thing,” Archibald said afterwards.
Archibald said after 60 metres he was “good” but his form broke and he has to be content with the bronze.
“Two medals in three competitions this year is good just preparing for the Olympics,” he added.
Jasmine Abrams joins June Marcia Griffith, and Marian Burnett as female athletes who have won silver medals at the games.
Griffith won a silver medal in the 400m at the 1979 Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico while Burnett won silver at the 2003 Games in the 800m.
Guyana’s James Wren Gilkes also won a gold and a silver medal at the Pan Am Games.
Archibald joins Tony Steth and Aliann Pompey as bronze medal winners at the event.
Steth, the first Guyanese to win a Pan Am Games medal did so in the 800m at the 1959 event in Chicago, USA while Pompey won bronze in the 400m at the 2003 Games in the Dominican Republic.
Today Jasmine’s sister, Aliyah Abrams will compete in the women’s 400m final, where she will attempt to give Guyana its third medal at the games.
