The Day in Review

Track and Field

The athletics events ended Sunday with Cuba winning 18 gold medals, the United States nine, while Mexico and Brazil were equal third on six gold medals.

It was the first time ever that Cuba had won more gold medals than the U.S. in track and field.

Typical of the Americans’ plight was their performance in the relays, the men’s and women’s 400 and 1,600 meters. The women won the 1,600-meter despite a strong anchor leg by Cuba’s Ana Quirot, the 400-meter and 800-meter gold medalist. They finished third in the 400-meter, a race riddled with poor handoffs.

But the worst handoff came in the men’s 400-meter relay, and cost the Americans the gold.

Andre Cason, Jon Drummond and Michael Bates had given the Americans what appeared to be a commanding five-meter lead after the first three legs. But on the final handoff from Bates to Jeff Williams, Williams dropped the stick. Cuba won the gold.

Wrestling

American wrestlers have the chance to leave Cuba with lots of gold. The United States has a 25-2 record, with a 10-1 record in Sunday’s third round.

Eight Americans advanced to the freestyle gold-medal round, to be held tonight.

Among them are four-time world champion John Smith of Stillwater, Okla., who edged Cuba’s Lazaro Reinoso, who beat him last year, at 136 1/2 pounds.

Also advancing is Townsend Saunders of Tempe, Ariz., won twice at 149 1/2 pounds, Brad Penrith of Phoenix (125 1/2);Kenny Monday of Stillwater (163); Kevin Jackson of Ames, Iowa, (180 1/2); Chris Campbell of Fayetteville, N.Y. (198); Mark Coleman of Columbus, Ohio (220) and Bruce Baumgartner of Cambridge Springs, Pa. in the super-heavyweight division.

Tim Vanni of Phoenix and Zeke Jones of Bloomsburg, Pa., advanced to the bronze-medal round.