U.S. Coach Sent Home by Doctors

Ralph Lindeman, U.S. men’s track and field coach at the Pan American Games, was sent home Monday to Colorado Springs, Colo., at the advice of doctors after being hospitalized because of chest pains.

Lindeman was held for observation Saturday night and Sunday in a Winnipeg hospital, then advised to leave.

“This is not life-threatening,” said Lindeman, 48, the track coach at the Air Force Academy. “It’s precautionary.”

Assistant Harvey Glance took over as head coach.

*

The U.S. women survived a rugged water polo match with Cuba, winning, 10-5, but emerging from the pool with bruises, scratches and torn bathing suits. Maureen O’Toole had three goals.

“It was a very physical game,” Heather Moody said. “We didn’t notice that in their play when we watched them two days ago, but they really took it out on us.”

Mexico finished 1-2 in both race walks. Bernardo Segura, who was disqualified during the 1995 Pan Am Games, beat Daniel Garcia in the men’s 20-kilometer event.

Graciela Mendoza beat Maria Sanchez for the women’s gold, with Michelle Rohl, the U.S. champion and 1995 Pan Am Games silver medalist, third.

*

Olympic sprint champion Donovan Bailey arrived in Winnipeg almost 24 hours after the men’s 100-meter race, still in the middle of a storm of criticism over skipping the race.

But an unapologetic Bailey pointed the finger squarely at Canadian officials, saying it wasn’t his fault he wasn’t picked for the race.

“It wasn’t a choice made by myself. I wasn’t selected,” he said simply.

The former world-record holder has taken a public relations hit over missing the games’ marquee track event. He will still run in the 400-meter relay, and reportedly received a $200,000 promotional fee from organizers.

After a workout, a smiling Bailey ducked critical questions the way Wayne Gretzky dodged bodychecks.

“I’ve said this a thousand times: I wasn’t selected,” he said. “After I was not selected [after last month’s Canadian track and field championships], then I decided to take a couple of days off and rest. If I was selected, then I would have gone directly back to Austin [Texas] to train and prepare for it.

“You can’t make a decision after I’ve been sitting at home and resting for a week.”

*

Two Peruvian wrestlers who disappeared from their team camp have still not been found, police said.

The Andean nation’s delegation declared that Luis Bazan and Lucio Vazquez had gone missing on Saturday after they failed to return from a jog on Friday, the last time they were seen.

Steve Saunders, spokesman for Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said Monday afternoon that the pair had not resurfaced. “There’s no indication leading us to believe that foul play was involved,” he said.

Peruvian officials said the pair may have headed for Toronto, where one is believed to have relatives. It was thought they may wait until the games were over before asking to be allowed to remain in the country.