|
|
|
ATKINSON WINS 800 M FREE BRONZE AT THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES August 2, 2002….Janelle Atkinson won Jamaica’s fifteenth medal at the Commonwealth Games when she swam 8:36.23 to claim the Bronze in the 800 M Freestyle. Atkinson, as she did in the preliminary heats, had the fastest reaction time and led for the first 25 metres. At the 50 metre turn, Atkinson had settled into second place behind the eventual winner Rebecca Cooke (England). Although Atkinson’s tried to stay with Cooke, she slowly fell behind, holding second place for 200 metres. At the 225 metre point, Australia’s Amanda Pascoe eased past Atkinson opening up a 3 second gap but never challenging Cooke. With 150 metres to go, Atkinson made a valiant effort to close the gap but Cooke touched first in 8:28.54, a clear and deserved winner. Pascoe finished second, timing 8:34.23 and Atkinson closing fast, third. Atkinson’s time was her second fastest time, just 2 seconds off her personal best done at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Swimming in the 50 M and 100 M semifinals, Mariana Chuck and Ramon James could not improve their times and finished in 16th place. Neither advanced to the final. Chuck swam 32.57 in the 50 M Back, while a disappointed James timed 1:01.08 in the 100 M Back. Tomorrow’s events will see Ramon James
competing in the 50 metre Freestyle and Mariana Chuck in the 200 M
Backstroke. In the evening session, all four girls will team up and
swim the 4 X 200 M Freestyle relay. End. |
