Atkinson adds CAC bronze to tally

Alia Atkinson continued to impress in the pool at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, adding a 100m butterfly bronze medal to the three gold medals she has already mined in the South American city.

Atkinson, who has now won four of Jamaica's five medals to date, swam 1:00.13 in the race, which was won by Mexico's Diana Sanchez Luna, who posted a championship record 59.31 seconds, with Colombia's Valentina Quintanilla taking the silver medal.

Jamaica's women footballers got the better of Colombia 2-1, but it was not enough as they failed to advance to the next round, missing out on goal difference.

Jamaica's women's basketball team cut their losing streak with a 62-37 win over Guatemala at the Elias Chegwin Coliseum.

Jamaica had lost their first three games 87-23, 67-36 and 67-37 to Cuba, Colombia and the US Virgin Islands (USVI), respectively.

However, they turned things around, largely through the efforts of point guard Tashawna Higgins, who scored 19 points and dished out four rebounds. Sasha Dixon also contributed well, sinking 14 baskets and five assists, while Cadene Cowan scored 10 points. Ashleee Gordon was strong off the boards, grabbing nine rebounds, while Ladonna Lamonth grabbed six rebounds.

They will now play for sixth place today in a rematch against the USVI, who recorded a 79-53 win over Barbados yesterday.

In men's hockey, Jamaica suffered their second loss of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, going down 5-0 to Cuba at the Pibe Valderrama Complex.

"We played a very experienced Cuba team. In the first period of the game, we conceded a penalty corner, but remained toe-to-toe with them as we aimed to play on the counter-attack. That tactic was working as we won a penalty stroke," said Ricardo Panton, manager of the Jamaica team.

SEEKING SECOND WIN

Meanwhile, the national women's hockey team will look for its second win and claim a spot in the top four when they tackle Trinidad and Tobago in a Pool B encounter on Tuesday, beginning at 2 p.m.

The Jamaicans beat Guatemala 5-0 on Sunday in their second game to move to three points.

Jamaica's contingent continued to swell with the karate and boxing representatives joining the group on Sunday night. A total of 26 members of the track and field contingent were due last night.

Keanan Dols swam eighth in the men's 200m backstroke A final with a time of 2:06.31, with the event going to Mexico's Xianyang Song, 1:59.95. The silver medal was won by Armando Barrera, 2:01.61 with Colombia's Andres Pinzon Garcia, 2:01.91 winning the bronze.

Renuart, 5:10.96, finished second in the 400m individual medley B final behind Venezuela's Mayerly Escalante, 5:06.90, with Panama's Fernanda Far Nunez, 5:12.72 taking third.