By Neto Baptiste
National sprinter Cejhae Greene won the country’s second medal at the ongoing Pan American Games in Lima, Peru on Wednesday.
The athlete clocked 10.23 seconds to finish third in the 100 meters finals at the Athletics Stadium in Lima and bring home the country’s second medal, both bronze, after boxer Alston Ryan finished third in the Men’s Light Welterweight days earlier.
Greene was beaten to the line by Paula Oli De Camilo Andre who came in second at 10.16 seconds and USA’s Michael Rodgers who won the gold in a time of 10.09 seconds.
Rodrigo Pereira of Brazil and Ray Dwyer were fourth and fifth respectively, clocking 10.27 and 10.32 respectively.
Greene, on Tuesday, clocked 10.31 to win his heat and advance to Wednesday’s final. In the semifinal heat, the Antiguan finished ahead of USA’s Cravon Gillespie who registered 10.32 seconds and St. Kitts’ Alston Rogers who finished third in a time of 10.36 seconds.
Astonishingly, the athlete’s bronze medal comes days after he expressed disappointment over the fact that no athletics coach was sent to the games in support of track & field. Greene, along with high jumper Priscilla Frederick, voiced their dissatisfaction to the media in Peru.
Reports had indicated that former national sprinter Heather Samuel-Daley was due to travel to Peru but had later opted out of going to the meet, a claim she has since denied.
Frederick is set to commence her competition on Thursday (today).