Sprinter Darnell James expectedly was among the medals in the final of the junior men's keirin final on Thursday night.
The T&T quickie claimed the bronze medal in the final of the Junior Pan American Cycling Championships in Lima, Peru, finishing closely behind the winner, while being pipped for the silver medal.
He was expected to be partnered by his countryman Syndel Samaroo, who up to the time of his semifinal triumph, was considered the favourite for the final. However, Samaroo had a crash soon after his semifinal victory, which prevented him from making it to the final.
National coach Elijah Greene said he was expecting a one-two finish from his charges before Samaroo's crash. However, he stressed his satisfaction with the performances of James and all his riders to date, saying they had lifted their performances against the best riders in the Pan Am region.
James had his work cut out for him when the derney (motorbike) left the track, after being positioned at second. But he started his sprint early and at one time was well in the lead before heading to the homestretch. However, he was overtaken by the eventual winner Juan Diego Bautista Torres of Colombia, before being pipped on the line by Mexican Etan Salvador Nuo Ramirez.
There was also a bronze medal for Jadian Neaves in the junior men's Points Race which took place last night.
Neaves finished behind Colombian Miguel Al Marin Martinez who raced out front for the gold medal, with Chile's Vicente Albornoz Lorca storming home for the silver medal.
Meanwhile, the pair of James and Jelani Nedd will face off in the quarterfinals of the match-sprint today after both were unbeaten in their 1/8 round heat, respectively. Nedd, who delivered a record-breaking performance in the flying 200 metres at the National Cycling Championships not too long ago at the National Cycling Centre (NCC) in Balmain, Couva, was at it again yesterday, producing the second-fastest time in the flying 200 metres at the Pan Am qualifiers at 10.474 seconds.
Only Colombia's Nicolas Olivera Madrid was faster than him at 10.465 seconds, while Baitista Torres' 10.550 was the third-fastest time on the day.
James had the 10th-fastest time, clocking 11.089 seconds, but afterwards, he destroyed Argentina's Donato Ceratti in the 1/8 round to secure a place in the quarterfinals. Nedd was also unstoppable in his 1/8 heat, taking care of Brazil's Joner Gobbi Arthur for the right to be in the quarterfinals.
Both were sensing a stroll to the final until they were drawn together in the quarterfinals which will take place early today.
Meanwhile, junior women's sprint ace Makaira Wallace booked a place in the semifinal of the women's match sprint last night after defeating Colombia's Mariana Perez Polo in semifinal heat two in two straight rides.
In Friday night's final, she was scheduled to be up against another Colombian Florez Cuadrado, who defeated Mexico's Carla Guadal Dosamante Sanchez in semifinal heat one.