SANTO DOMINGO, 9 August 2003 — World record holder Osleidys Menendez suffered a shock defeat in the women’s javelin at the Pan American Games on Thursday as chaotic organization continued to dog the event.

However, former world number one Marcelo Rios lived up to his top billing in the tennis, demolishing an opponent whose total prize money this year totals just $118.

Menendez, world champion in Edmonton two years ago, was one of the few athletes with any pretensions of breaking a world record at the Games.

Instead, the Cuban finished third with a throw of 60.20 meters, more than 11 meters short of the world record she set at Rethymnon in Crete two years ago.

The tearful 23-year-old was at a loss to explain her performance. which casts doubts over her chances of defending the world championship in Paris later this month.

“I can’t talk now,” she told reporters.

Kim Kreiner of the US won win a throw of 60.86 metres followed by Lavern Eve of Bahamas with 60.68.

Juan Ignacio Cerra, injured in a motorcycle accident last year, gave Argentina their first athletics gold medal by winning the hammer with his last throw after trailing James Parker of the US for most of the competition.

“It was my only good throw, all the others were wrong and I’m very happy to give a gold to my country, which is the most important thing,” he said after producing a winning throw of 75.53 meters.

Parker was second with 74.37.

Venezuela also claimed their first athletics gold as Nestor Nieves won his duel with Canada’s Joel Borgeois down the final straight to win the men’s 3,000 meters steeplechase.

In a similarly thrilling finish, Teodoro Vaga of Mexico broke clear of Brazil’s despairing Marilson dos Santos to snatch the men’s 10,000 meters after the two had broken clear for the last third of the race.

Temperamental Chilean Rios, who needed only 48 minutes to win his opening match on Tuesday, continued to coast in the tennis with a 6-0, 6-3 win over El Salvador’s Jaime Cuellar.

“I didn’t have too many difficulties,” Rios admitted afterward.

Back at the athletics stadium, Brazil’s Hudson de Souza finally received his gold medal — nearly two days after winning the men’s 5,000 meters.

The ceremony followed an official protest by Brazil, who also complained that the medals for the 800 meters on Wednesday night were awarded immediately after the race without runner-up Osmar dos Santos being told.

Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) president Carlos Nuzman said that security forces were fighting amongst themselves and said he feared for the delegation’s safety after chaos at Wednesday’s basketball final against the Dominican Republic.

Brazil claimed the arena was filled beyond its 10,000 capacity.

“Today, I’m worried about the safety of the Brazilians, athletes and non-athletes,” he said. “The problem here is not the facilities but the organization.”