A century of Pan Am medals for Jamaica

WHEN NAVASKY Anderson crossed the line in third position in Saturday’s men’s 800-metre final at the 19th Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, it was more than just a personal milestone for the lanky national record holder.

His bronze, along with medals won by three of his Jamaica teammates brought the nation’s all-time total of Pan Am medals in athletics to 100.

Anderson stepped past the 400-metre mark in 50.9 seconds and hung on to secure the bronze in 1 minute, 46.40 seconds.

Interestingly, while it was Jamaica’s first medal in the men’s 800, Anderson isn’t the first Jamaican to win a medal in the 800 at these Games.

In 1959, Jamaican George Kerr placed second, but his medal is tallied with the British West Indies Federation team as Jamaica didn’t compete by itself.

That statistical anomaly aside, the bronze may be a good sign for Anderson. A year later, with Jamaica again part of the Federation team, Kerr raced to bronze in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.

The nations of the British West Indies have competed individually in the Olympic Games ever since then.

Jamaica arrived in Santiago with an all-time total of 96 medals in track and field and on October 30, dubbed ‘Discus Day, two-time defending men’s champion Fedrick Dacres and Samantha Hall, each won bronze medals.

On November 3, Jaheel Hyde became the first Jamaican to win the 400-metre hurdles since Winthrop Graham in 1987.

Hyde reached the 2022 World Championship final last year with Swept Track Club head coach Okiele Stewart before migrating ahead of the 2023 season. Stewart had high praise for Hyde after his 49.19 second victory in Santiago. “I’m very happy for him at this moment, I mean, to see him take it on and go down there at this time of the season and to win. The last time he and I had a chat, I said to him, yes, guess what, just focus on what you’re to do and a win is a win, anyway you take it,” Stewart exulted on November 6.

Anderson polished off the century of Pan American Games medals with his bronze.

Jamaica also won medals in cycling through Dahlia Palmer, who took a bronze in the kierin, and in wrestling, where Aaron Johnson took third place in the men’s 125-kilogram freestyle category.

Overall, Jamaica won six medals, one gold and five bronze.