Mexico’s Martinez denied repeat title after being disqualified for impeding Knevelbaard’s path to the finish line, resulting in first victory for Americans in Chile; Talbot takes third in decathlon, giving U.S. four bronze medals overall, along with Flynn in long jump, Kurgat in 10,000 and mixed 4x400

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Kasey Knevelbaard, an Under Armour professional athlete, captured the first gold medal Tuesday for the United States in the men’s 5,000 meters at the Pan American Games at Julio Martinez Pradanos National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, but not before an official review resulted in a disqualification for Mexico’s Fernando Martinez.

Martinez, the 2019 Pan Am gold medalist in the 5,000, originally finished one-hundredth of a second ahead of Knevelbaard, but was later disqualified as a result of his left arm blocking Knevelbaard’s path to the finish line.

Knevelbaard, who clocked 14 minutes, 47.69 seconds, captured the first Pan Am men’s 5,000 gold for the Americans since Ed Moran triumphed in 2007 in Brazil. It was the first medal for the U.S. in the event since David Torrence secured silver in 2015.

Charles Philibert-Thiboutot of Canada was elevated to silver in 14:48.02, with Brazil’s Altobeli Da Silva upgraded to bronze in 14:48.18.

It was also the second distance medal for the Americans in Chile, along with Ednah Kurgat grabbing bronze in the women’s 10,000-meter final Monday in 33:16.61.

Peru’s Luz Mery Rojas Llanco achieved gold in 33:12.99, with Mexico’s Laura Galvan securing silver in 33:15.85.

Ryan Talbot also earned bronze for the U.S. by completing the decathlon Tuesday with 7,742 points, being edged for silver by Brazil’s Jose Fernando Ferreira, who accumulated 7,748 points.

Chile’s Santiago Adolfo Ford, formerly of Cuba, relied on wins in the long jump and high jump as well as a victory in the javelin throw to triumph with 7,834 points.

Tiffany Flynn achieved a bronze medal Monday for the Americans in the women’s long jump with a wind-legal effort of 21 feet (6.40m) in the opening round.

Natalia Carolina Linares of Colombia emerged victorious with a wind-legal leap of 21-10.25 (6.66m) in the third round, with Brazil’s Eliane Martins capturing silver with a wind-legal performance of 21-3.50 (6.49m) on her first attempt.

The Americans also added a bronze medal in the mixed 4x400-meter relay Monday, with Demarius Smith, Honour Finley, Richard Kuykendoll and Jada Griffin clocking 3:19.41.

Dominican Republic, anchored by Marileidy Paulino, prevailed in 3:16.05 and Brazil achieved silver in 3:18.55.