The Tribune

TWO Bahamian swimmers, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace and Joanna Evans, won their heats and will compete for medals in this evening’s finals at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.

Vanderpool-Wallace, who won a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle on Tuesday, broke the Pan Am Games record in her signature event, the 50m freestyle, this morning and is the fastest qualifier for tonight’s final, scheduled for 9.08pm.

The Bahamian swam 24.31 seconds in winning her heat, breaking the record set minutes earlier by Etiene Medeiros, of Brazil, of 24.75 seconds and equalled by American Madison Kennedy who finished second behind Vanderpool-Wallace in the heat. Ariel Weech took the last place in the B final with a time of 26.32.

Evans won her 400m freestyle heat in 4min 15.51sec and goes into the final tonight as the fourth fastest qualifier after cruising to victory ahead of Canada’s Emily Overholt. Kiera Janzen, of the United States, and Andreino Pinto, of Venezuela, both swam over three seconds faster than Evans to lead the qualifiers for the final while Brazilian Manuella Lyrio was marginally quicker with 4.15.38. The final is scheduled for 7.52pm.

Dustin Tynes finished fourth in his heat of the men's 100m breaststroke in 1min 3.15sec and will compete in the B final this evening after qualifying 11th fastest.