RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, CMC – Brendan Christian beat Jamaican Marvin Anderson on the line in the men’s 200 metres to win Antigua and Barbuda’s first gold medal in the 60-year history of the Pan American Games Friday.

 

On a cold, damp evening, Christian pushed forward at the tape to clock 20.37 seconds just ahead of Anderson in 20.38 seconds, as the track and field segment continued at the XV Pan American Games on Friday. The bronze medal went to American Rubin Williams in 20.57 seconds.

 

Antigua and Barbuda got a second medal on the night when the lanky 21-year-old James Grayman took third place in the men’s long jump.

 

He cleared 2.24 metres to finish behind Cuban Victor Moya, who leapt 2.32 metres and Donald Thomas of the Bahamas who cleared 2.30 metres.

 

After the 200 metres, the top three embraced each other and Christian signaled to the cheering crowd of over 20 000 at the Joao Havelange Olympic Stadium.

 

It was a great delight for Christian, who also won a bronze medal in the men’s 100 metres on Tuesday night. He dedicated both medals to his mother Brenda Matthew.

 

“This is big, very big accomplishment!” said the 23-year-old.

 

“This is my first international title and also the first gold medal for Antigua and Barbuda. I feel really delighted … honestly I feel absolutely delighted.

 

“I wanted to make a statement and I guess I did. To win at the senior level is fantastic and I’m very happy with me race,” said Christian, who was born in Antigua but moved to Texas as a child.

 

The race was run in very cold conditions as temperatures dipped to 15 degrees Celsius coupled with chilly wind. It was a very close race.

 

Christian reached the turn first, but Anderson joined him in the straight and the two battled to the finish. On reaching the line, Christian had more in store and pushed out ahead of the Jamaican.

 

“I got out hard, a little harder than I wanted to because I knew who was behind me and I wanted to make then work hard,” Christian said.

 

“I worked cause I won the race, but I ran out of my race a bit because I don’t usually run the turn that hard. He (Anderson) closed on me but I knew I had it in me to take this one.

 

“I’m happy with the race. It was a little cold outside but it did what I wanted and that was to win. This is my best meet ever – two medals and one is a gold.”

 

CMC rs/kp/07