PAN AMERICAN GAMES : The Day in Review

Boxing

Kenneth Friday, a 29-year-old Air Force medic stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, fought his way into the Pan American Games finals at 125 pounds, beating Mexico’s Arnulfo Castillo for a team-leading third victory in as many fights.

Michael DeMoss, a Marine from Camp Lejeune, N.C., earned a bronze medal despite his loss to Canada’s Chris Johnson at 165 pounds. The U.S. team will have four of its 12 fighters in Sunday’s finals.

Friday dominated the fight before settling for a surprisingly close 6-3 decision win.

The other U.S. boxers in the finals are Shannon Briggs, who drew a bye all the way into the heavyweight finals; Steve Johnson, who earned a spot in the 139-pound title fight when his opponent fell to injury and Patrice Brooks, who won his semifinal match Wednesday in the 132-pound division.

Field Hockey

In the field hockey finals, both the U.S. men’s and women’s team won the bronze medal.

The U.S. men’s team, which includes several players from Ventura County, dominated Barbados, 7-1. But the bronze medal was small consolation. In a loss to Canada on Wednesday, the American men were virtually knocked out of contention for a berth in the 1992 Games in Barcelona.

The Americans have one last chance to qualify for the Olympics at a tournament in New Zealand in October. Three players are going to Australia to train--Tom Vano of Simi Valley, Larry Amar of Camarillo and Ben Maruquin of Ventura.

In the women’s medal play, the Americans shutout Mexico, 7-0, to finish in second place overall in Group B, behind Canada. Argentina won the gold medal, playing Canada to a scoreless game and then winning, 3-1, on penalty kicks.

Rhythmic Gymnastics

In the team competition in rope and ball, the U.S. team of Naomi Hewitt-Couturier of New York, Jenifer Lovell of Chicago and Diane Simpson of Evanston, Ill. scored a total of 17.450 points to finish fourth.

Cuba finished first at 18.050 points, followed by Canada and Brazil.

Roller Skating

Dante Muse of West Des Moines, Iowa, won the men’s 20,000-meter speedskating race by less than a second over Guillermo Trinaroli of Argentina.

In the men’s 1500-meter, Muse also finished first but then was placed third after an appeal by the Cubans that was upheld. As a result, Colombia’s Guillermo Botero was declared the winner.

Maria Richardson of Argentina won the women’s 1,500, edging Dani Lewis of Lacey, Wash., and Rosa Sastre of Argentina won the 10,000.

In roller hockey, the United States lost to Brazil, 4-1, Argentina beat Colombia, 10-1, and Chile defeated Cuba, 8-4.

Taekwondo

Juan Moreno of Zion, Ill., beat Amauris Batista of Cuba in the 50-kilogram category to win the gold medal.

In the 70-kilogram division, Isle Guilarte of Cuba beat William Arancibia of Bolivia for the gold. Tim Connolly of San Jose lost in the first round.

Volleyball

The U.S. men came from behind to beat Argentina, 9-15, 15-13, 13-15, 15-11, 15-12, and advance to the medal round. The Americans’ record is 3-2.

In another men’s match, Canada beat Puerto Rico.

The U.S. women, however, were eliminated from medals contention when they lost to Canada, 14-16, 15-6, 15-4, 15-10.

In women’s matches, Brazil beat Argentina in three consecutive games and Cuba beat Peru.