Cuba Tops U.S. for Gold

The Cuban women’s basketball team beat the United States for the fifth consecutive time Saturday, defeating the poor-shooting Americans, 75-64, for the gold medal at the Pan American Games.

“This is a very triumphant moment for Cuba,” said Yamile Martinez, who led her team with 21 points and six rebounds.

Rebekkah Brunson of Georgetown scored 16 points for the U.S., which shot 35% (21 of 60) from the field.

Earlier, the Pan American basketball confederation rejected a protest by Brazil of Friday’s 75-69 overtime semifinal loss to the Americans.

The Brazilian delegation filed the protest with the Dominican organizing committee, claiming the U.S. was credited with one extra point at the end of the first quarter.

In track and field, American Larry Wade was originally announced as the winner of the men’s 110-meter hurdles. But after officials reviewed the photos of the finish, they awarded the gold medal to Cuba’s Yunier Hernandez in 13.35 seconds, the same time as Wade.

U.S. Coach Fred Harvey filed a protest, saying “We’re protesting the reading of the photo. We feel that it was read incorrectly.” He said no decision was expected until today.

The Americans took first in the men’s and women’s 400-meter relays, and the women’s 1,600 relay. Melissa Mueller of Simi Valley won the women’s pole vault, clearing 14 feet, 5 1/4 inches.

Brazilians swept the marathon. Vanderlei Lima won the men’s race in 2 hours, 19 minutes, 8 seconds. Nineteen runners started the race, but six dropped out. Marcia Narloch won the women’s gold in 2:39.54.

In men’s tennis, Chile’s Marcelo Rios, once the world’s top-ranked player and now 43rd, defeated Alex Kim of Potomac, Md., 7-6 (9), 7-6 (4), to reach the final against Brazil’s Ferdinand Meligeni.

After winning two races Saturday, Lanee Butler of Aliso Viejo clinched a gold medal in Mistral sailing.

The U.S. men’s rifle team got a gold medal in men’s skeet from Randy Sotowa of Arcadia.

In softball, Lovianne Jung of Fountain Valley homered in a 2-0 win over Venezuela.