ORLANDO, United States — Athletes from Special Olympics Jamaica (SOJ) are on the brink of adding to their medal tally at the USA Summer Games entering today’s second day of competition.

The Jamaicans won their first medal in the pool on Monday when Kadian Ingleton struck gold in the 500-yard freestyle swim.

On the track at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in central Florida there were positive performances from Sheneel Williams, Monique Johnson and Allan Gordon.

Williams had the second best time in all five heats in the 400m, clocking 1:14.49 minutes, while Johnson (1:27.03) had the seventh fastest. Gretchen Winter of Alaska had the fastest time of 1:09.47.

In the 800m, Williams ran 3:16.50 minutes for the fourth best of the three heats. Winter had a best of 2:56.49.

On the men’s side, Gordon finished the 400m race in 58.08 seconds for second place behind Ke’shaun Tillman of North Carolina. Tillman stopped the clock at 55.78 seconds.

Up to press time on Monday organisers had not yet published the full schedule for Tuesday’s events, but SOJ’s athletics coach Lori Scott-Moore was optimistic of another solid show from her team.

“After the performances of our three athletes today the coaching staff is pleased. They gave their best and really executed well, so we couldn’t ask for more, and I’m expecting more of the same tomorrow,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

At the Coronado Springs Convention Centre, Kella Smith and Anthoney Williams carried Jamaica’s flag high in bocce, a sport in which players use an underarm action to bowl a ball at a target with points awarded based on its proximity to the target.

Smith was edged out 6-7 to Johanna Schoneneck of Pennsylvania in her opening match, but rebounded to defeat Amanda Wilson of Indiana 15-1.

In the men’s competition, Williams recorded come-from-behind victories over Allen Lynard of Wisconsin and Steven Crawley of Colorado, respectively. He defeated Lynard 11-9 before getting the better of Crawley 12-9.

“Kella improved as she continued to play — she wasn’t really used to playing on that surface, but I think she adjusted well,” said SOJ’s bocce Head Coach Hugh McDonald.

“The first game was very challenging for her, but she did her best. In the second game she focused, which is what we want from her, and that was the key today,” he said.

“Anthoney is in a tough division and it was very competitive against both players. But he was very confident and was able to get back because he saw where his error was and he adjusted,” McDonald explained.

— Sanjay Myers