The battle for the second place in the medals table at the Pan American Games is reaching its climax with Brazil and Cuba vying for gold everywhere from canoeing to rhythmic gymnastics to track and field.
Brazil and Cuba were tied after Thursday's competitions with 35 golds, but Brazil had more overall and silver medals.
Five gold medals in track and field, however, helped the Cubans return to second place on Friday with 46 golds, six more than the host. With just two days left, the United States remains comfortably ahead in first place with 85 gold medals.
Yargeris Savigne spearheaded Cuba's gold rush at the Joao Havelange Stadium when she leapt 14.80 meters to win the women's triple jump, beating the previous Pan Ams record of 14.77 by countrywoman Yamile Aldama in 1999 in Winnipeg. Keila Costa of Brazil came second at 14.38.
Roxana Diaz cruised to victory in the women's 200m, clocking 22.90 seconds, edging Jamaica's Sheri-Ann Brooks by .02 seconds and Granada's Sherry Fletcher by .06 seconds.
World record holder Osleidys Menendez and Sonia Bisset made a 1-2 Cuban finish in the women's javelin, but Menendez's best throw of 62.34 meters was more than nine meters short of her world record.
Cuba also finished 1-2 in the women's shot put final, with Misleydis Gonzalez snatching the gold medal with a toss of 18.83 and Yumileidi Cumba the silver at 18.28.
Victor Moya then capped a golden day for Cuba when he took the men's high jump after clearing 2.32m.
Juliana Santos earned Brazil its only gold in track and field as she finished first in the women's 1,500m in 4:13.36.
Olympic champion Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic tripped on the last obstacle to finish fourth in the 400-meter hurdles, which was won by Canada's Charles Kunkel.
The United States, a perennial dominant force in track and field, had a gloomy day as it bagged only four medals, none of them a gold.
The Americans were also blanked in canoe-kayak, not getting any medals.
Canadian kayaker Angus Mortimer won the men's K-1 1,000 meters. Mexico's canoer Jose Cristobal Quirino took the C-1 1,000.
Cuba's Karel Aguilar and Serguey Torres took the men's C-2 1,000 meters in canoeing, and Darisleydis Amador, Yulitza Meneses, Liante Alvarez and Dayexi Gandarela won the women's K-4 500 meters for Cuba.
The Brazilians struck gold in the men's K-4 1,000 with Roberto Maheler, Carlos Campos, Sebastian Cuattrin and Edson Isaias da Silva.
Mexico's Jesus Valdez and Manuel Cortina got gold in the K-2 1,000.
Mexico made a 1-2 finish in the women's 3-meter springboard final. Paola Milagros Espinosa Sanchez, who clinched the gold medal on 10-meter Wednesday, added a 3m gold with 361.20 points, and teammate Laura Sanchez was second at 347.45.
Americans David Boudia and Thomas Finchum teamed up for a gold medal in men's synchronized 10-meter.
The United States won duet synchronized swimming, as expected, with Andrea Nott and Christina Jones, earning a spot in the Beijing Olympics.
In table tennis, Gao Jun, a former Chinese national player who now represents the United States, defeated Wu Xue of the Dominican Republic 11-6, 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 9-11, 11-5 in the women's single final to win her third straight Pan Ams gold. Wu was also a former Chinese national player.
"I'm very happy with the gold medal," said the 38-year-old Gao. "When I was young, I used to train everyday, but as time passed it became quite impossible to keep this training routine. Even though, it's good to know I'm still very competitive."
Gao retired from the Chinese national team in 1994 and moved to the United States. Since then, she has won numerous titles in US and North American competitions.
Now, Gao is still the strongest female player in the United States and represents the best hope for the first Olympic medal in US table tennis history.
The Pan Ams victory also guaranteed Gao a berth at next year's Olympic Games.
"I'm happy I'll take part in the Olympic Games in Beijing, and compete with my fellow countrywomen," she said.
Cuba's Adr Dian Puentes won the men's individual archery.
In men's soccer, Ecuador edged Jamaica 2-1 for the gold. Edmundo Zura converted a penalty kick in the 84th minute, only five minutes after teammate Jefferson Montero tied it. Eric Vernon scored in the first half for the Jamaicans.
Mexico took the bronze by beating Bolivia 1-0. Enrique Esqueda scored the only goal in the ninth minute.
In rhythmic gymnastics, Lisa Wang of the United States took the individual all-round title, while Brazil outperformed Cuba to win the group all-round event.
Source: Xinhua
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