Burch saves best for last
Roy Allan Burch saved his best for last at the Pan Am Games in Mexico yesterday where he produced three of his fastest times in the pool.The Bermudian swimmer capped an extraordinary day of competition with an impressive seventh place showing in the men’s 50 meter freestyle ‘A’ final competing against the likes of multiple world record holder Cesar Cielo of Brazil.His time of 22.82 in the final marked the third time inside of an eight hour span that he had covered the distance under the 23 second barrier.Burch swam a 22.96 in the qualifying heats to finish tied for eighth.That set the stage for a swim off with a Uruguayan rival which Burch eventually won in a time of 22.76 some seven hundredths of a second outside of his own national record of 22.69 that he achieved at this year’s World Championships in Shanghai.“I had the swim off earlier and went a bit faster than I did in the heat so I wanted to see if I could grab a bit more time in the final and knew I had to have a special swim,” he said. “But it didn’t go quite as I would’ve liked it to but it’s all a learning experience and I had nothing to lose.“I was in the outside lane so I was just trying to see if I can go faster and get into a medal position. But it would’ve taken a really special swim to get there because these guys are no slouches.“I’m pleased because I came here to get into the final and compete with some of the best guys and the best guy in the world and now I have something to look at and see where I’m at and take steps forward.“It’s all about trying to make it better, not just for myself, but also for Bermuda. I’ve done three of my best times today and so I can’t complain.”And neither could Bermuda coach Ben Smith who watched in awe as Burch came into his own in the pool.“I am very pleased with what Roy was able to achieve,” he said. “He is handling himself like a professional and to put in three lifetime best swims all in the same day at this point in the season is encouraging and very exciting.”Brazilian Cielo won the 50 meter freestyle in a record time of 21.58 seconds.Also in action in the pool yesterday was Lisa Blackburn who placed fifth in the women’s 200 meter breaststroke ‘B’ final.Elsewhere at the Pan Am Games sailor Malcolm Smith currently lies in ninth place among the 12 boat Sunfish fleet.The multiple Sunfish world champion has not enjoyed the best of times in Mexico where he has managed only two top five finishes this week.Bermuda’s Pan Am Games flag bearer is currently 17 points adrift of the third and final spot on the podium with four races remaining.Only the top five sailors upon completion of the ten scheduled races will advance to the medal race.Brazil’s Matheus Dellagnello currently leads the fleet with six points followed by USA’s Paul Foerster (13 pts) and Argentina’s Francisco Renna (18 pts) in second and third respectively.