Member News

June 23, 2007

Team USA Ends Pan Am Circuit with a Bronze from Kenny Hashimoto

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Kenny Hashimoto (Thornton, Colo. / Northglenn Judo / 66kg) won a bronze medal on Saturday at the Simon Bolivar Cup in Isla de Margarita, Venezuela.

Hashimoto advanced to the second round of an 18-person division before losing to Ludwing Ortiz (VEN), a bronze medalist at the 2005 and 2006 Pan American Championships. 

In the repechage, Hashimoto won two matches by ippon (instant win), including his bronze medal win over Antonio Rivas (VEN).

The division was won by Ricardo Valderrama (VEN) who beat Felipe Novoa (CHI) in the final.  Ortiz won the second bronze medal.

After winning the FEDOJUDO International Cup in the Dominican Republic last week, Anna Palmer (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center) finished seventh in the 52kg division on Saturday.

Palmer beat Carolina Do Masciento (BRA), but lost to Yulieth Sanchez (COL), a fifth-place finisher at the Pan Ams in May.

In the repechage, Palmer lost again to Kercy Romero (VEN).

Sheila Espinosa (CUB), the reigning Pan Am and Paris Super World Cup Champion, won the division, beating Sanchez in the final.  Flor Velazquez (VEN), a 2007 Pan Am bronze medalist, and Laurie Wiltshire (CAN) won the 52kg bronze medals.

The Simon Bolivar Cup was the third, and final, event in the Pan American Circuit which also had stops in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador during the past two weeks.

Complete results are as follows:

Men's 66kg

1. Ricardo Valderrama (VEN)

2. Felipe Novoa (CHI)

3. Kenny Hashimoto (Thornton, Colo. / Northglenn Judo)

3. Ludwing Ortiz (VEN)

Men's 73kg

1. Richard Leon (VEN)

2. Wlunkis Herrera (VEN)

3. Rodrigo Lucenti (ARG)

3. Arturo Zapata (VEN)

Men's 81kg

1. Emmanuel Lucenti (ARG)

2. Carlos Urdaneta (VEN)

3. Merwin Rodriguez (VEN)

3. Luis Crosby (VEN)

Women's 52kg

1. Sheila Espinosa (CUB)

2. Yulieth Sanchez (COL)

3. Laurie Wiltshire (CAN)

3. Flor Velazquez (VEN)

Also Competed: Anna Palmer (Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center)

Women's 57kg

1. Yadinis Amaris (COL)

2. Mari Vargas (VEN)

3. Ikaru Zarate (VEN)

3. Yagnelys Mestre (CUB)

Women's 63kg

1. Driulis Gonzalez (CUB)

2. Isis Barreto (VEN)

3. Angelica Valera (VEN)

3. Marianela Pagola (VEN)