From Suzie Paxton:
Emily Cross (New York, N.Y.) won a silver medal in women’s individual foil competition in her first appearance at the 2003 Pan American Games. The 2003 Cadet World Champion was turning the momentum of the match, before Venezuela’s Mariana Gonzalez scored the final two touches to win the gold medal, 15-9.
Erinn Smart (Brooklyn, N.Y.) took the bronze medal after soundly beating Venezuela’s Johana Fuenmayor 15-7 in the semi-final bout but then lost by one touch to Gonzalez 15-14 to advance to the gold medal match.
“This has been a great experience,” reflected Cross after receiving her silver medal. “That was a really tough battle,” when asked about the gold medal match. “That was a very tough bout. In the middle my legs started to feel like Jello, and she was really fighting hard.”
At two different times in the semi-final match between Smart and Gonzalez, the match was delayed for technical reasons. “I was a bit frustrated because of the technical difficulties that was going on,” said Smart after the close match. The U.S. team asked to review two touches that may not have hit valid, but the technical problems could not be reproduced. Regardless of the outcome of the close semi-final match, Smart was pleased with her overall performance and to go home with a Pan American bronze medal.
In a day of close matches for the U.S. team, not only did Smart lose by one touch to advance to the gold medal bout, but both men’s individual epeeist, Eric Hansen (San Bruno, Calif.), and Seth Kelsey (Brush Prairie, Wash.) lost by one touch to advance to the top eight of the competition.
Hansen, after a strong showing in the first round pool, was seeded No. 2 in the direct elimination competition. He then faced an opponent in the round of 16 he had faced and beat in the pools. “He was fencing really well, and I kept the score low.” Time ran out when the two fencers were tied 8-8. In the sudden death touch, Hansen lost by one touch. “I made an action that had worked fine during the bout, but it didn’t work that time. I was just a little bit out of distance, time was running out, and I kind of forced it.”
Kelsey, currently the top ranked U.S. men’s epeeist, met Jonathan Pena of Peru in the round of 16. “I did well in the pools, made some adjustments, but it eventually came down to one touch,” said Kelsey after losing 15-14. “I was pumped coming here and wanted to do well. It was a really tough competition.”
Boris Camilo of Cuba was the eventual winner in the men’s epee competition defeating Silvio Fernandez of Venezuela 15-11.
The U.S. team has won two gold, two silver, and two bronze medals after two days of competition. The USA returns to action on Monday with the start of the women’s epee and men’s sabre individual events. Leading the American squad are Stephanie Eim (New York, N.Y.) and Elisabeth Spilman (Los Angeles, Calif.) in women’s epee and Ivan Lee (Brooklyn, N.Y) and Jason Rogers (Los Angeles, Calif.) in men’s sabre.
From The USOC News:
Fencing
Emily Cross (New York, N.Y.) and Erinn Smart (Brooklyn, N.Y.) won a silver and bronze medal, respectively, in the women’s foil individual competition on Sunday. They join four teammates from Saturday’s events in giving the United States team a total of six medals after the first two days of competition.
Cross, the 2003 Cadet World Champion, was turning the momentum of the match before Venezuela’s Mariana Gonzalez scored the final two touches to win the gold medal, 15-9. Smart took the bronze medal after soundly beating Venezuela’s Johana Fuenmayor 15-7 in the semifinal bout but then lost by one touch to Gonzalez 15-14, eliminating the possibility to advance to the gold medal match.
Sada Jacobson (Atlanta, Ga.), won gold in the women’s sabre and sister Emily Jacobson (Atlanta, Ga.) won the bronze medal on Saturday. In men’s foil competition, both Dan Kellner (New York, N.Y.) and Jon Tiomkin (New York, N.Y.) advanced to the final gold medal match to assure the U.S. team top medal finishes. Kellner defeated Tiomkin in a close gold medal match, 15-13.
In a day of close matches for the U.S. team on Sunday, not only did Smart lose by one touch to advance to the gold medal bout, but both men’s individual epeeists, Eric Hansen (San Bruno, Calif.) and Seth Kelsey (Brush Prairie, Wash.) lost by one touch to advance to the top eight of the competition.
UP NEXT: The U.S. Fencing Team is back in action Monday with women’s individual epee at 9:00 and men’s individual sabre at 11:00. Finals in both events begin at 18:00.