The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Carl Hield, the third and final Bahamian boxer competing at the Pan American Games, got eliminated from further competition and a chance to add to the Bahamas’ medal haul.

Hield, competing in the men’s welterweight division, suffered a 3-0 decision at the hands of Argentina’s Alberto Palmetta in the quarter-final round yesterday at the Oshawa Sports Centre in Toronto, Canada.

The 28-year-old Hield, a silver medallist at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games and a bronze medallist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, was competing in his first match at the games on a day when the athletic competition got started with some mixed results at the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium.

A win for Hield and he would have been guaranteed at least a bronze medal. He followed on the heels of super heavyweight Keishno Major, who lost his quarter-final match to Cuban Lenier Pedro on Sunday.

On Saturday, Rashield Wiliams went down in the round of 16 to American Luis Feliciano in the light welterweight division.

Sprinter Shavez Hart was the lone competitor to advance in his discipline after posting a third place finish in his heat of the men’s 100 metres. He clocked 10.13 seconds to finish behind Trinidad & Tobago’s Keston Bledman, who won in 9.95, while American Remontay McClain was second in 9.99.

Johnathon Farquharson, in the first heat in lane eight, failed to advance after he got eighth in 10.48 as he got left in the blocks and was never really in contention as one of the top four automatic qualifiers. Andre De Grasse of Canada won the race in 10.06.

The 22-year-old Hart, who is coming off a sensational season for Texas A&M on the collegiate circuit, ran a personal best of 10.10 on April 18 that he will take into the semi-final and a chance to get into the final today.

Also during the morning session, Raymond Higgs was scheduled to compete in the qualifying round of the men’s long jump, but Team Bahamas manager Ralph McKinney said the Grand Bahamian never showed up in Toronto to compete.

On the women’s side, no competitors were entered in the 100m as McKinney indicated that Adanaca Brown, who was expected to compete, decided to go into the 100m hurdles.

In her semi-final round, Brown - the national champion - finished eighth in her heat in 13.18. Her team-mate and national record holder Devynne Charlton was fifth in her heat in 13.22. American Queen Harrison, winner of Charlton’s heat, went on to win the gold in a Pan Am record of 12.52 with her compatriot Tenaya Jones taking the silver in 12.84 and Canadian Nikkita Holder getting the bronze in a season’s best of 12.85.

The first final in athletics for the Bahamas came in the women’s triple jump with Tamara Myers of Andros settling for 10th place in 13.57 metres or 44-feet, 6 1/4-inches. Colombia got the gold and bronze from Caterine Ibarguen (15.08m/49-5 3/4) and Yosiry Urrutia (14.38m/47-2 1/2) and Brazil’s Keila Costa (14.50m/47-7) holding onto the silver.

Today, according to McKinney, Lanece Clarke will compete in the 400m semi-finals, while LaToy Williams and Ramon Miller will run in the men’s semi-finals. National record holder Jeffery Gibson is entered in the semis of the men’s 400m hurdles.

On Thursday, McKinney said Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson and Anthonique Strachan are scheduled to contest the women’s 200m, Hart and McBride will be entered in the men’s 200m semis and national record holder Bianca ‘BB’ Stuart will be in the long jump qualifying rounds. The final of both 400s will also be held.

On Friday, McKinney said national champion Latario Collie-Minns and national record holder Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands will be in the men’s triple jump final. Also on Friday will be the semis of both the men’s and women’s 4 x 100 and 4 x 400m relays and the finals of the men’s and women’s 200m.

And on Saturday, Pan Am defending champion Donald Thomas and national champion Ryan Ingraham will compete in the men’s high jump and, if they qualify, the Bahamas teams will compete in the final of the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400m relays for men and women.

Athletics is the last of Team Bahamas to compete at the games. While boxing, tennis and gymnastics all finished in their first round, swimming had an impressive showing with Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace leading the way with a gold and bronze medal, a Pan Am record and two Bahamas national records.