Kreiner Sets U.S. Record

Kim Kreiner, who was not in a medal position before her last throw, broke her American record in the javelin with a throw of 199 feet, 8 inches Thursday in the Pan American Games.

Kreiner beat her previous mark by seven inches and won the gold medal.

Kreiner is the first woman to win gold in Pan Am javelin since 1975.

Other highlights included American Sarah Taylor’s advance to the semifinals in women’s tennis after defeating Vanina Garcia of Argentina, 7-5, 6-4.

The world champion U.S. women’s softball team routed the Bahamas, 10-0, as Lori Harrigan threw an abbreviated perfect game. She retired all 15 batters -- striking out 10 -- before the international mercy rule ended the game after five innings.

The women’s volleyball team beat Peru to advance to the quarterfinals, 25-20, 21-25, 25-22, 25-22. Nicole Branagh had 19 kills for the U.S., which will play either Mexico or Venezuela in the quarterfinals on Monday.

Alexandre Despatie of Canada won his second gold medal, using his final dive to edge Mexico’s Fernando Platas in 3-meter springboard. Troy Dumais of Ventura won bronze.

The world champion U.S. women’s water polo team tied Canada, 7-7, in its final group play game. Natalie Golda of La Habra scored three goals.

Tony Azevedo of Long Beach had five goals to help the U.S. men’s water polo team defeat Colombia, 18-4.

Jason Rogers of Los Angeles helped the U.S. defeat Venezuela, 45-30, to win the men’s saber gold medal.

Cuba won the women’s epee gold, 45-25, beating a U.S. team that featured Elisabeth Spillman of Los Angeles.