Messé A Bessong and Meladze at Top of Podium
10 July 2023
Gold for Alexandre Arencibia in Lima
24 July 2023
Silver medallist! That was the title judoka Isabelle Harris was conferred as she stepped onto the podium at the Pan-American Open in Lima, Peru, on Saturday.
“I was really happy to make it to the final. Unfortunately, I didn’t win gold, but I’m very happy with the silver medal,” said Harris, following the match.
The British Columbian defeated Ariana Cornejo of Peru and Constanza Perez of Chile to advance to the ultimate showdown. In addition to gaining experience in her three bouts, Harris also qualified for the Pan-American Games in Santiago, Chile, this fall, thanks to her silver medal.
“Things went really well for me today! I think I fought well. Competing in a final at this level was a great experience, and now I have a better idea of what to work on going forward,” added Harris, who won a bronze medal at the Santo Domingo Open last April.
Alberta’s Kiera Westlake, who also competes in the under-63 kg division, was in the running for a bronze medal on Saturday, but lost to Edith Ortiz of Ecuador in the final.
After losing her first-round bout to Perez, Westlake moved on to the repechage, where she faced Cornejo, who had just been defeated by Harris. Westlake also defeated Cornejo, and finished the day in fifth place after losing to Ortiz.
Lemire and Frascadore fifth
Two other Canadians also finished the day at the foot of the podium in their respective weight categories in Peru.
Justin Lemire of Montréal, who won bronze at the Santo Domingo Pan-American Open and gold at the Santiago Open, nearly captured another medal in Lima on Saturday. Up against Mexico’s Gilberto Cardoso in the bronze medal final, the Québécois ultimately finished fifth in the under-73 kg weight class.
In his first fight of the day, Lemire had lost to Toma Sosa of Argentina. In the repechage, he defeated Aldair Barthe Chirrinos of Peru.
A few moments after Lemire’s bout, Julien Frascadore attempted to win a medal in the under-66 kg group. After receiving a first-round bye, he had defeated Alejandra Menendez of the USA in his first fight of the day. He then lost to Peru’s Juan Postigos, a setback that sent him to the repechage.
In that round, he ousted Robin Jara of Mexico before bowing out to Diego Calix of El Salvador in the bronze medal match.
In the same weight class, Adrian Shimabukuru lost to Joaquin Tovagliari of Argentina. Tylor Collin (-60 kg) also lost his only fight of the day to Mateo Condor of Peru.
On Sunday, Canada will be represented by six other judokas on the final day of the Pan-American Open in Lima. Coralie Godbout (-78 kg) and Alexandria Lefort (-70 kg) will be in action, as will David Popovici (-81 kg), Alexandre Arencibia (-90 kg), Keagan Young (-90 kg) and Benjamin Kendrick (-100 kg).
