MIRAMAR, Florida:

Chrisann Gordon and Traves Smikle were Jamaica's brightest stars on day one of the Junior Pan Am Champion-ships in Miramar, Florida, capturing gold in their respective events yesterday.

In total, the country picked up two gold, two silver and one bronze to end the day on five medals.

Smikle captured the boys' discus crown, while Gordon took the girls' 400 metres title. It was silver for Danielle Williams in the girls' 100 metres hurdles and bronze for Fredrick Dacres in the boys' discus.

Smikle, the 2009 bronze medallist in the event, got things going in the afternoon for Jamaica as he became the new record holder in the event with a winning throw of 66.51 metres, erasing the 2009 mark of 65.34 metres done by Finlay Mason of the United States. Dacres, the World Youth Champion, finished third for the bronze medal with 57.24 metres. The United States' Gabriel Hull was the silver medalist in the event with a throw of 57.78 metres.

The thrower was understandably elated with the result.

"It is a good feeling because coming to this meet, I had some technical problems but after talking to my coach he told me to go out and do what I always do, and that really motivated me. This is my last meet (Pan Am), and getting a new record is indeed overwhelming," said Smikle.

finally delivered

After her disappointment at the World Youth Championships a few weeks ago, it was redemption for Gordon. The Holmwood Technical athlete finally delivered on the big occasion by winning the 400m event in 52.62 seconds to upstage the United States' Diamond Dixon and Phyllis Francis, who finished second and third in 53.10 and 53.61 seconds. Jamaica's other competitor, Nicolate Martin, ended eight in 58.82 seconds.

Gordon, who was a late replacement for Anastacia Scott, was drawn in lane eight, she went fast and came out in front on the straight with a good lead, keeping her form for a decisive win.

"I am happy to know that I could come here and make up for my disappointment at World Youth, as I wanted to end the season on a high. I did that, and I used lane eight as a motivation," she said.

It was also a big performance for Williams in the final of the girls' 100 metres hurdles as she gave the United States athletes something to think about by being competitive all the way to post a personal best of 13.32 seconds for the silver medal. The USA's Trinity Wilson clocked 13.17 seconds for the win, with her teammate Brigitte Owens taking bronze after finishing third in 13.34 seconds. Jamaica's Tonique Sobah was fifth in the event in 13.71 seconds.

- R.G.