Dominican Republic leads, Team USA second in women's doubles at 2019 Pan American Games
July 26, 2019
Standings
LIMA, Peru - Entering the final game of the day Thursday at the 2019 Pan American Games, there was a two-team race for the top spot in the women's doubles standings, and the bowlers from the Dominican Republic were able to outlast Team USA to secure the lead at the halfway point of the 12-game event.
The lefty-righty duo of Astrid Valiente and longtime team member Aumi Guerra saw years of hard work and preparation come together at the Bowling Center of La Villa Deportiva Nacional (VIDENA), but they know the job is not done.
The two rolled six-game sets of 1,317 and 1,283, respectively, to lead the 16-team field with a 2,600 total, 43 pins ahead of Team USA's Stefanie Johnson (1,283) and Shannon O'Keefe (1,274), who are second with a 2,557 total. Mexico's Aseret Zetter (1,340) and Iliana Lomeli (1,202) are close behind with 2,542.
"We came in hoping to make good shots and give ourselves a chance to make the podium, and we got off to a great start today," Guerra said. "We know we are the underdogs because there's a lot of talent here, especially the Team USA girls, the Colombians and some other professionals, but I think we did a good job at keeping it simple for a successful first half of the race."
The second half of the doubles event will take place Saturday, following a day off to enjoy the official opening ceremony for the 2019 Pan Am Games. The Games are held every four years, and this year's event will feature approximately 6,700 athletes participating in 39 sports and 61 disciplines.
The gold, silver and bronze medalists in the doubles event will be determined by total pinfall over the 12 games.
"We're very different on the lanes - I'm more calm and she's more energetic, plus I'm a lefty and she's a righty - but we complement each other well," Valiente said. "So, it's not so much about the communication about the movement, it's more about trusting each other and giving the right words when we need them."
The two have developed their rapport and chemistry in the years leading up to the 2019 Pan Am Games, much like Team USA's representatives this year.
Johnson and O'Keefe have developed a sister-like bond since debuting together on Team USA in 2005, and that only intensifies the pride and excitement they're feeling this week in Peru.
Though they're not leading halfway through the doubles event, the two right-handers feel they also worked well together in their first Pan Am appearances.
"We're right where we want to be, and we'll plan to focus on what we saw today and use that information to help is make the right choices and moves Saturday," Johnson said. "We were bold in making moves today, especially in when we made them, but I think we got stuck in the transition a little bit. Even then, those games weren't terrible, but it's something to improve on."
The pair opened the day with games of 460 and 436, before the 41-foot Rome oil pattern really began to transition for them, but they recovered well and finished strong to keep the Dominican duo within reach.
"We gathered a ton of information today, and the goal is to use that to make the adjustments quicker," O'Keefe said. "I'm confident in our ability to execute and make spares and stay in the moment together. We know we handled the fresh well, and then as the lanes changed, we looked at what some of the teams that were bowling well were doing that we weren't. We were trying to be aware of what people were doing, but not obsessing over it. And, we were watching what they were doing, not their scores."
The Team USA men also bowled well earlier in the day, and their performance included a record 1,516 block from Jakob Butturff. Nick Pate added a 1,172 set for a 2,688 total, and they are second behind Puerto Rico's Cristian Azcona (1,470) and Jean Perez (1,449), who pulled ahead of the 16-team men's field with a 2,919 total, also a Pan Am Games record.
Team USA head coach Rod Ross was proud of his team's effort Thursday but knows there's still some room for improvement if the medal stand is going to be in their future.
"Some teams bowled well on the fresh, while others did well at the end, but we seemed to have bookend success for both the men and women and just need to figure out the transition in the middle a little better," Ross said. "Things are looking good overall going into the next six games, and everyone will be ready."
Ross also acknowledged Butturff's performance.
"Jakob's performance today was phenomenal," Ross said. "He made some really good moves and executed well, and it was fun to be a part of his record achievement."
The 2019 Pan American Games will continue through Aug. 11. The bowling competition, featuring 16 men's countries and 16 women's countries, will conclude July 30.
Since bowling was added to the Pan American Games in 1991, Team USA has won 21 of a possible 32 gold medals and claimed 35 medals overall, 20 more than the next-closest country.
The week also includes singles, which will feature 12 games of qualifying over two days, before the field is cut to the top eight bowlers in each division for match play. The top four bowlers after match play will advance to the knockout-style semifinals.
LIMA, Peru - Entering the final game of the day Thursday at the 2019 Pan American Games, there was a two-team race for the top spot in the women's doubles standings, and the bowlers from the Dominican Republic were able to outlast Team USA to secure the lead at the halfway point of the 12-game event.
The lefty-righty duo of Astrid Valiente and longtime team member Aumi Guerra saw years of hard work and preparation come together at the Bowling Center of La Villa Deportiva Nacional (VIDENA), but they know the job is not done.
The two rolled six-game sets of 1,317 and 1,283, respectively, to lead the 16-team field with a 2,600 total, 43 pins ahead of Team USA's Stefanie Johnson (1,283) and Shannon O'Keefe (1,274), who are second with a 2,557 total. Mexico's Aseret Zetter (1,340) and Iliana Lomeli (1,202) are close behind with 2,542.
"We came in hoping to make good shots and give ourselves a chance to make the podium, and we got off to a great start today," Guerra said. "We know we are the underdogs because there's a lot of talent here, especially the Team USA girls, the Colombians and some other professionals, but I think we did a good job at keeping it simple for a successful first half of the race."
The second half of the doubles event will take place Saturday, following a day off to enjoy the official opening ceremony for the 2019 Pan Am Games. The Games are held every four years, and this year's event will feature approximately 6,700 athletes participating in 39 sports and 61 disciplines.
The gold, silver and bronze medalists in the doubles event will be determined by total pinfall over the 12 games.
"We're very different on the lanes - I'm more calm and she's more energetic, plus I'm a lefty and she's a righty - but we complement each other well," Valiente said. "So, it's not so much about the communication about the movement, it's more about trusting each other and giving the right words when we need them."
The two have developed their rapport and chemistry in the years leading up to the 2019 Pan Am Games, much like Team USA's representatives this year.
Johnson and O'Keefe have developed a sister-like bond since debuting together on Team USA in 2005, and that only intensifies the pride and excitement they're feeling this week in Peru.Though they're not leading halfway through the doubles event, the two right-handers feel they also worked well together in their first Pan Am appearances.
"We're right where we want to be, and we'll plan to focus on what we saw today and use that information to help is make the right choices and moves Saturday," Johnson said. "We were bold in making moves today, especially in when we made them, but I think we got stuck in the transition a little bit. Even then, those games weren't terrible, but it's something to improve on."
The pair opened the day with games of 460 and 436, before the 41-foot Rome oil pattern really began to transition for them, but they recovered well and finished strong to keep the Dominican duo within reach.
"We gathered a ton of information today, and the goal is to use that to make the adjustments quicker," O'Keefe said. "I'm confident in our ability to execute and make spares and stay in the moment together. We know we handled the fresh well, and then as the lanes changed, we looked at what some of the teams that were bowling well were doing that we weren't. We were trying to be aware of what people were doing, but not obsessing over it. And, we were watching what they were doing, not their scores."
The Team USA men also bowled well earlier in the day, and their performance included a record 1,516 block from Jakob Butturff. Nick Pate added a 1,172 set for a 2,688 total, and they are second behind Puerto Rico's Cristian Azcona (1,470) and Jean Perez (1,449), who pulled ahead of the 16-team men's field with a 2,919 total, also a Pan Am Games record.
Team USA head coach Rod Ross was proud of his team's effort Thursday but knows there's still some room for improvement if the medal stand is going to be in their future.
"Some teams bowled well on the fresh, while others did well at the end, but we seemed to have bookend success for both the men and women and just need to figure out the transition in the middle a little better," Ross said. "Things are looking good overall going into the next six games, and everyone will be ready."
Ross also acknowledged Butturff's performance.
"Jakob's performance today was phenomenal," Ross said. "He made some really good moves and executed well, and it was fun to be a part of his record achievement."
The 2019 Pan American Games will continue through Aug. 11. The bowling competition, featuring 16 men's countries and 16 women's countries, will conclude July 30.
Since bowling was added to the Pan American Games in 1991, Team USA has won 21 of a possible 32 gold medals and claimed 35 medals overall, 20 more than the next-closest country.
The week also includes singles, which will feature 12 games of qualifying over two days, before the field is cut to the top eight bowlers in each division for match play. The top four bowlers after match play will advance to the knockout-style semifinals.