Aitken in 'B' final
Kiera Aitken wasn’t at her best in yesterday’s heats but still managed to qualify for last night’s 100 metre backstroke ‘B’ finals at the Pan Am Games in Mexico.Aitken was due to swim last night at the Scotiabank Aquatics Centre.Her team-mate, Roy-Allan Burch, finished fourth in his 100 metres freestyle heat in a time of 52.87 seconds, which wasn’t fast enough to reach the finals.Today will see veteran Bermuda swimmer Lisa Blackburn take to the pool for her first heats.Bermuda swim coach Ben Smith said: “Kiera swam the 100m backstroke; it wasn’t her best swim but she gets another shot at it tonight in the ‘B’ final.“The facilities are very good, the swimmers are getting used to being at altitude.“The men’s field for the 100 metres freestyle is very competitive so it was difficult for Roy to qualify.”Sailor Malcolm Smith was bestowed with the honour of carrying Bermuda’s flag in Friday night’s glittering Opening Ceremony in Guadalajara.Smith has been crowned Sunfish World Champion on three occasions in 1994, 1999, and 2003. He is also a seasoned veteran in competing in the Pan American Games having represented Bermuda in every one of the Games since 1987, and winning a silverm medal in 1999, and 2003.The current Games will be his seventh appearance.The sailing events in Puerto Vallarta, on the Pacific coast of Mexico, start today.Meanwhile, authorities say they had increased security at the athletes’ village on the first day of competition.Federal police in Guadalajara implemented two road blocks at the village’s entrance on Saturday.Police also blocked access to a parking lot near the village and private cars will be stopped about 1.2 miles from the entrance.Authorities also expanded the inspection of visitors and a helicopter has been flying over the village every half hour.