SANTIAGO, Chile — In spite of not leaving with a medal, 100m sprinter Jevaughn Whyte is still thankful for the opportunity to represent Jamaica at the Pan American Games.

The team of Odaine McPherson, Whyte, Andre Dacres, and Michael Sharp — in that order — finished sixth in the men’s 4x100m final on Thursday evening in 39.81 seconds.

The race was won by Brazil (38.68), while Cuba (39.26) and Argentina (39.48) took the silver and bronze, respectively. The United States of America (USA), one of the favourites for the gold, did not finish because of an injury to their anchor just a few metres from the finish line.

“We feel disappointed,” Whyte told the Jamaica Observer after the race. “We wanted to go back home with a medal but we have to give God thanks that we got this opportunity to come here and represent our country.

While the temperature was much lower for the final than the semi-final earlier in the afternoon, Whyte says it was no excuse for the result.

The quartet now returns to Jamaica to rest and prepare for the 2024 season.

“Thanks to Jamaica for supporting us,” Whyte said in response to the comments towards the team on social media. “There’s much more to come. Thank you.”

Sharp was also involved in the men’s 200m final but placed seventh, clocking 21.35. The race was won by Brazil’s Renan Correa in 20.37. Jose Alnardo Gonzalez took the silver in 20.56 and Nadale Buntin of St Kitts and Nevis earned the bronze in 20.79.

Jamaica’s Lloydricia Cameron also competed in the women’s shot put final on the day.

She placed sixth with a distance of 16.63m. The gold medal went to Canada’s Sarah Mitton (19.19), while Rosa Ramirez of the Dominican Republic (17.99) and Adelaide Aquilla of the USA (17.73) took the silver and bronze, respectively.

Aisha Praught was also in action, placing sixth in the women’s 5,000m final, clocking 16:23.06 minutes. Venezuela’s Joselyn Brea won the gold medal in 16:04.12, and the silver and bronze went to USA’s Taylor Werner (16:06.48) and Canada’s Julie-Anne Staehli (16.06.75), respectively.

Jamaica has a busy Friday with six athletes in action.

O’Dayne Richards and Rajindra Campbell contest the men’s shot put final at 5:27 pm local time, 3:27 pm Jamaica time.

The men’s high jump final starts four minutes later with Cristoff Bryan and Lushane Wilson representing Jamaica there.

Jaheel Hyde, who entered the men’s 400m final with the fastest time (49.72), hunts a gold medal at 5:45 pm (3:45), then Jamaica’s athletics team Captain Navasky Anderson competes in heat one of the men’s 800m semi-finals at 7:45 pm (5:45).