Alia Atkinson put in a command performance to win herself and Jamaica’s third gold medal at the 23rd Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games at the Eduardo Movilla Aquatic Complex on Sunday.
Atkinson clocked 30.19 seconds, distancing herself from Melissa Rodriguez Villanueva of Mexico, who took silver in 31.20 seconds and Venezuelan Mercedes Toledo, who timed 31.99 for third.
“I wanted to go out and do the best that I could,” said Atkinson, who was winning her 12th gold medal at the CAC Games. She had won five in Cartagena, Colombia, in 2006, and four in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, in 2010.
“The breaststroke is my pet and I had a goal,” she added. “I wanted to go under 30. Point 19 off, that’s not too bad.”
Jamaica’s medal tally now stands at four, the three gold won by Atkinson, plus bronze won by Chris Binnie in the men’s individual squash competition.
