By Bert Rosenthal, .c The Associated Press
July 31
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) - The race for the most gold medals in track and field at the Pan American Games came down to two of the sport's heavyweights, and Cuba's late rush was more than the United States could handle.
With a flurry of five gold medals during Friday night's final 10 events, the mighty Cubans finished with 11 golds, one more than the Americans, who failed to win an event.
``It was spectacular ... fantastic,'' high jumper Javier Sotomayor said after becoming the first track and field athlete to win four individual Pan Am golds. ``This is great.''
Sotomayor also was great, as were the other Cuban winners: hurdlers Anier Garcia and Aliuska Lopez, triple jumper Yoelbis Quesada and the women's 1,600-meter relay team.
Quesada, competing in the final event, didn't know his medal made the difference in the gold medal battle.
``I'm very happy with this team victory,'' he said. ``This is very important.''
Michael Calvo, the bronze medalist in the triple jump, said, ``It was a great meet for us. We all trained to win, and achieved our goal. I expected a team victory. Now we will go to Seville and see what happens in the world championships.''
``This is tremendous,'' said Jose Luis Salmeron, a spokesman for the Cuban team. ``We did it with spectacular marks and in spite of not having as many key athletes as in the past.''
During the seven days of track and field, Cuban men won five golds, including repeat performances by long jumper Ivan Pedroso and javelin thrower Emeterio Gonzalez. Cuban women took six golds. The four women's golds before Friday all were achieved with Pan Ams records: Daimi Pernia in the 400
hurdles, Yamile Aldoma in the triple jump, Osleidys Menendez in the javelin and Magalys Garcia in the heptathlon.
The United States had the satisfaction of winning the overall medals race in track with 43 to 25 for Cuba.
Sotomayor, the world record holder in the high jump and the only one to clear 8 feet, needed only two jumps to continue his remarkable Pan Ams streak. He cleared 7 feet, 2 1/2 inches, then 7-6 1/2. With victory assured, the 1992 Olympic champion and two-time world champion ceased jumping.
Quesada, the 1996 Olympic bronze medalist, won his third straight triple jump title, soaring 56-4 3/4.
Garcia, the 1997 world indoor champion, led a 1-2 Cuban sweep in the men's 110 hurdles in 13.17 seconds, smashing the meet record of 13.20 by Renaldo Nehemiah in 1979.
``I was afraid in the semifinal, because three weeks ago I had an injury to my right leg,'' Garcia said. ``In the final, I knew I could win. The injury was not something I thought about. I just ran my race.''
Yoel Hernandez, the 1996 world junior champion, finished second with a season-best 13.24.
Lopez, who has fought hepatitis in recent years, earned her third consecutive gold medal in the women's 100 hurdles with a season-best 12.76, shattering the Pan Ams record of 12.81 by LaVonna Martin in 1987.
``It's amazing,'' Lopez, a cousin of Pedroso, said. ``I am in good shape, but I didn't expect to win today.''
This was the fourth Pan Ams medal for Lopez. She also won the bronze in 1987.
The relay team of Julia Duponty, Julia Calatayud, Idalmis Bonne and Daimi Pernia won in 3:26.70.
Jamaica won two of the other three relays, both with games records.
The team of Michael McDonald, 400 champion Greg Haughton, Danny McFarlane and Davian Clarke sped to victory in the men's 1,600 relay in 2:57.97, the year's fastest clocking.
Jamaica also won the women's 400 relay with a team of Kerry-Ann Richards, Aleen Bailey, Beverly Grant and Peta-Gaye Dowdie in 42.62, another world-leading performance.
The Brazilian foursome of Raphael Oliveira, 200 champion Claudenei Silva, Edson Ribeiro and Andre Silva overcame a sensational leadoff leg by Canada's Donovan Bailey and won the men's 400 relay in 38.18, also a games record.
By the anchor leg, Brazil had a slight lead, and Andre Silva easily outran Canada's Trevino Betty to the finish.
``I knew I had a decent start when I caught the guy in front of me,'' said Bailey, who was given a rousing ovation by the packed crowd at the University of Manitoba Stadium when he came onto the track with his teammates. ``After that, all I wanted to do was relax.''
The best the United States could muster Friday night were five silvers and three bronzes.
AP-NY-07-31-99 0147EDT
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