Pan American Games

A review of what happened Monday at Rio de Janeiro:

It has been 20 years since an American distance runner climbed to the top of the medal platform at the Pan American Games. But it happened twice within a 30-minute span Monday after Sara Slattery won the women’s 10,000 meters and Ed Moran won the men’s 5,000 on a warm night at Joao Havelange Stadium.

And just to prove it wasn’t a fluke, both set Pan Am records with Slattery chopping more than two seconds off the 10,000 mark with a time of 32:54.41 and Moran taking nearly five seconds off the 5,000 record, running a lifetime-best 13:25.60.

“We really came here looking to perform extremely well to put U.S. distance running back on the map,” Moran said.

Added Slattery of U.S. distance runners: “This younger group has shown they can run with the best.”

In other finals from the first full day of track competition, April Steiner (14 feet, 5 1/4 inches) finished second to Brazil’s Fabiana Murer (a meet-record 15-1) in the women’s pole vault, Suzy Powell (193-9) finished fourth behind gold medalist Yarelis Barrios of Cuba (202-4) in the women’s discus and Kristal Yush (218-0) was fourth in the women’s hammer.

-- KEVIN BAXTER

Basketball

Brazil’s basketball team also moved into the gold-medal game, routing Cuba, 79-60. Micaela and Kelly both scored 17 points and Kelly had 14 rebounds.

Soccer

Brazil’s women, the favorite in soccer, beat Mexico, 2-0, on a pair of goals by Rosanna. The hosts will face the United States, which beat Canada 2-1, in the final.

Tennis

Three Americans moved on: Travis Helgeson (Overland Park, Kan.), Todd Paul (Stamford, Conn.) and Stephen Bass (Bronxville, N.Y.).

Helgeson posted a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Kristepehr Elien of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Paul earned a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Gustavo Ramirez of Paraguay and Bass rolled to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Marvin Rolle of the Bahamas.

Water polo

The U.S. men routed Puerto Rico, 21-3, behind six goals from captain Tony Azevedo of Santa Ana and three by John Mann of Newport Beach.

Water skiing

Canada won both water ski finals. Whitney McClintock captured women’s slalom ahead of Regina Jaquess of Atlanta and Mandy Nightingale of Sapulpa, Okla. Drew Ross finished first in the men’s slalom.

But wakeboard went to Marcelo Girardi of Brazil.

Overall the United States finished the day with 147 medals (60-58-29), far ahead of Brazil’s 91. Second in golds was Cuba with 39.

Others

America’s men swept Venezuela in volleyball and Argentina beat the U.S. team in futsal (indoor soccer), 5-2.

The opening of women’s softball, featuring the world champion Americans, was delayed because of wind problems at the fields at Cidade do Rock, the same venue where baseball had several postponements last week.

A portion of the stadium roof was damaged.

Three modern pentathletes qualified for the Beijing Olympics with their medal performances.

Yane Marques of Brazil got the gold, followed by Monica Pinette of Canada and Mickey Kelly of Chatham, N.Y.

From Times staff and wire reports