PAN AMERICAN GAMES Kreiner sets record to win gold medal in javelin event

The American's throw of 199-8 was 7 inches better than her previous best.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) -- Kim Kreiner needed the throw of her life to win a medal at the Pan American Games.
What she came up with was a javelin heave that set an American record and lifted her all the way to the gold medal Thursday.
"I knew I could throw this far," Kreiner said after an effort of 199 feet, 8 inches beat her previous best by 7 inches. "As soon as I let it go, I knew it was a good throw."
So good that she became the first U.S. woman to win the event in the Pan Ams since 1975. She was beaming as she shouted across the track to her coach in the stands.
"I've been trying to peak for this and the worlds," said Kreiner, who said she's topped 200 feet in practice. "I knew I could throw that far. It was just a matter of putting all the little pieces together.
"It felt effortless."
Other medal winners
Kreiner's performance was the most noteworthy in track and field for the United States. There were five other American medal-winners:
UJames Parker of Great Falls, Mont., and John McEwen, North Canton, in the men's hammer throw behind Juan Cerra of Argentina;
UAnthony Famiglietti of Port Jefferson, N.Y., in the 3,000 steeplechase won by Nestor Nieves of Venezuela;
UDaniel Browne, Portland, Ore., in the men's 10,000 meters behind Teodoro Vega of Mexico;
UMary Jane Harrelson of Blacksburg, Va., in back of Cuba's Adriana Munoz by .15 seconds in the women's 1,500.
Young sprinting sensation Allyson Felix, still a few months shy of her 18th birthday, won her 200-meter semifinal in 22.9 seconds. She goes for gold today.
"It was decent," Felix said of her run. "I just wanted to qualify."
U.S. teams had a terrific day, led by the perfection of the softball squads.
The world champion women routed the Bahamas 10-0 as Lori Harrigan threw an abbreviated perfect game. She retired all 15 batters before the international mercy rule ended the game after five innings.
Then men's pitcher Doug Gillis beat Mexico 4-0 with a perfect game highlighted by Mike Dryer's three-run homer.
In women's handball, the United States earned a spot in Saturday's semifinals by beating Uruguay 24-21. Next up is Argentina, which beat the Americans 25-19 in the preliminary round.
Brittane Martin (Marietta, Ga.), Dawn Lewis (Park City, Utah), Lisa Eagen (Oskaloosa, Iowa) and Edina Batar (Budapest, Hungary) each had five goals for the Americans.
U.S. volleyball advances
By beating Peru 25-20, 21-25, 25-22, 25-22, the U.S. women's volleyballers set up a quarterfinals match with either Mexico or Venezuela on Monday. High school phenom Cynthia Barboza scored 11 points in her first national team start.
"I thought this was the best match we played as a team," said Barboza, of Long Beach, Calif. "All of the other matches, one or two players have scored most of the points. Today was real even; everything was flowing and we were talking more."
The U.S. equestrian team won the dressage competition, while the fencers won men's saber. The world champion women's water polo squad tied Canada 7-7 and moved into the medals round.
Thomas Tames of Columbus, Ga., edged Cuba's Reinier Estopinan in 50-meter rifle, with Kenneth Johnson (Crawfordville, Fla.) earning bronze. Brandie Neal (Spencer, Ind.) was the women's skeet champion, and John McNally (Heath, Texas) won bronze in 25-meter men's pistol.
Second gold medal
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, Calif., won bronze.
Then Emilie Heymans and Marie-Eve Marleau won the women's platform synchronized diving for Canada, Heymans' second gold of the games.