Elton Tucker, Assistant Editor - Sport

Jamaica's players celebrate at the end of a XV Pan American Games men's soccer semi-final match against Mexico at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. Jamaica won 5-4 on penalties to advance to the final. - AP

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

Maurice Smith earned Jamaica's first gold medal at the XV Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil yesterday when he won the gruelling decathlon event.

Smith, now the only Jamaican to win a medal in the event at the Pan American Games, got his gold in style, capturing the top spot with a Games record 8,278 points.

Big day for young Boyz

It was also a big day for the young Reggae Boyz. They put Jamaica in the final of the football competition here for the first time after beating Mexico 5-4 on penalties in a nail-biting shoot-out.

The Boyz are assured of at least silver medals after Friday's final against Ecuador, who beat Bolivia 1-0.

Jamaica won two other medals to bring their current tally to three - a gold, one silver and a bronze.

Dorian Scott, another national record holder, missed gold in the shot put by just four centimetres. Scott had a best of 20.06m.

Canada's Dylan Armstrong got gold with a best of 20.10m.

Boxer Ricardo Smith collected the bronze after he was beaten 12-4 by Brazil's Pedro Lima in the semi-finals of the welterweight division.

Smith, last year's Commonwealth silver medallist and the national record holder at 8,349 points, looked a winner all over late on Monday and he duly delivered with a very strong second day in the 10-discipline event. He was a tired man at the end but very happy for the win.

"I feel good knowing that I am able to come here and win a gold medal in a record-breaking performance. It's pretty overwhelming as this is my first Pan American senior championships," the 26-year-old Smith said.

Norman Bailey was the hero for the Boyz as he scored the winning penalty after both teams were locked at 3-3 after five kicks and 4-4 in sudden death.

There were no goals in the match which was dominated for the most part by the Mexicans. The Central Americans, in fact, had 66 per cent of the possession but Jamaica, as they had done in the three previous matches here, kept a clean sheet with stout defending and good goalkeeping by Duwayne Kerr.

Mexico's Christian Sanchez missed his team's first penalty and James Thomas scored coolly from the spot to put Jamaica one up. Enrique Esqueda converted the Mexican's second kick but Obrian Woodbine hit the crossbar and both teams were level. Moises Velasco put Mexico ahead 2-1 before Troy Smith evened things for Jamaica at 2-2. Jorge Torres then scored to put Mexico in the lead at 3-2 and they stayed ahead when Boyz captain Ricardo Cousins' shot was saved.

Emmanuel Cerda could have won it for Mexico but he hit the crossbar. Kerr then kept his nerve to make it 3-3 and the teams went into sudden death.

Hugo Ayala scored to give Mexico a 4-3 lead and Dwayne Smith ensured that the kicks would continue at 4-4.

It was all over when Bailey put his penalty past the Mexican goalkeeper after Rodolfo del Real had missed Mexico's seventh penalty.

Jamaica's athletes should increase their medal tally today.

National champion Delloreen Ennis-London and Vonette Dixon will run in the sprint hurdles final, while Nickiesha Wilson and Shevon Stoddart will face the starter in the 400m hurdles final.

elton.tucker@gleanerjm.com

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