Posted: July 26, 2007

Athletics (RRW): Gold Medal For Souza For Pan Am Games

From David Monti © 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com The home country fans at Rio's Estádio Joăo Havelange had something to cheer about yesterday when Hudson de Souza brought home Brazil's first men's gold medal in athletics at the 15th Pan Am Games, winning the 1500m in a Games record of 3:36.32. The silver medal went to Mexico's Juan Luis Barrios, who was also the runner-up in the 5000m, in a personal best 3:37.71, while Bayron Piedra of Ecuador got the bronze in 3:37.88, also a personal best. For Souza it was his fourth Pan Am Games medal. At the 2003 Games he won gold at both the 1500m and 5000m, and won the bronze in 1999 in the 1500m. The athletics competition in Rio takes a break today, resuming on Friday with finals in the men's 10,000m and women's 1500m and 5000m. Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil, the reigning ING New City Marathon champion and South American record holder, will double back after his 5000m bronze medal on Monday to try to win the 10,000m over America's Jorge Torres and Mexico's Alejandro Suarez. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest