Crucial error cost Atkinson

Elton Tucker, Assistant Sports Editor

Guadalajara, Mexico:

Pan American Games 200 metres individual medley silver medallist, Alia Atkinson, has revealed that an error at a crucial time cost her the bronze medal in the women's 100 metres breaststroke final at the Scotiabank Aquatic Centre on Monday night.

Atkinson missed out on third spot by fifteen hundredths of a second to Canada's Ashley McGregor. McGregor clocked 1:08.96 with Atkinson just behind in a national record of 1:09.11.

Both swimmers went to the finish locked together but the Canadian got the better of Atkinson by a whisker.

"The problem with Monday night was that I was right beside her (McGregor), so I saw her. As I came in for the last push, I saw her pushing too, but we were both off because the wall was a little further than we thought," Atkinson said .

She added: "Instead of going in for another push I glided in more and she did the other push (from the position she was in). The deciding factor was that I opted to do one long stroke and she did two short strokes. You have to decide in a split second what to go for ... and I chose the wrong one."

Relegated to fourth

The Florida-based swimmer who went into the final with the third-fastest time, a then national record 1.09.28, led for much of the way but was relegated to fourth in the last 10 metres. Americans swept the top two medals with Catherine Chandler taking gold in 1.07.90 and Ashley Wanland silver in 1:08.55.

Atkinson, however, quickly shrugged off that disappointment to bag silver in her next event, the 200m individual medley in a record 2:14.75, taking a massive 2.56 seconds off her own previous mark of 2:17.31.

The silver medal in the 200m individual medley is Jamaica's first medal in swimming at these Games since Janelle Atkinson (no relation to Alia) won a trio of silver medals in the women's 200m, 400m and 800 metre freestyle events at the 1999 Games in Winnipeg, Canada.

Already Atkinson (Alia) has entered the pool six times and has set five national records, and she has promised more in her fourth and final event, the 200 metres breaststroke which comes up today.

When asked if she will be among the medals again tonight, her confident answer was: "Sure."

The preliminaries start at 10:15 a.m. with the final set for 7:55 p.m.

Kendese Nangle, who was down for the women's 100 metres freestyle yesterday morning, did not face the starter because of an ankle injury. According to Chef de Mission Compton Rodney, she twisted her ankle "a few days ago".