by MIKE KING

BRADLEY ALLY delivered in a big way for Barbados in the pool with two splashes of gold on a memorable night for the Caribbean in swimming at the 20th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Colombia Tuesday night.

The United States-based Ally landed the men's 400 individual medley in a games record four minutes, 22.86 seconds, and 200-metre breaststroke at the Pedro de Heredia Aquatic Centre.

It was a huge tonic for the Barbados contingent, who have despatched a squad of more than 200 in 21 disciplines.

In the 200 men's breaststroke, Ally took control early and moved away from the Mexican brothers Alfredo Jacobo (2:19.82) and Alejandro Jacobo (2:21.33) to win in 2:19.28.

In Ally's games record swim in the 400 IM, Bahamian Jeremy Knowles chased him relentlessly, but the 19-year-old Olympian was strong down the final lap and won impressively to complete his third medal of the games so far. He had won silver in the 100-metre breaststroke on Monday night.

Knowles (4.23.83) finished second and Mexican Raul Lopez (4:34.27) got third.

Jamaica's Alia Atkinson, winner of 11 Carifta golds this year, was equally impressive in capturing gold in the women's 50-metre butterfly and the 100-metre breaststroke events.

The amazing Ally and Atkinson show led a five-medal haul for the Caribbean on the night in the pool and boosted the region's medal haul to nine in two days of swimming competition.

Ranked 35th in the world in the event, Atkinson produced a blistering finish to snatch a narrow win over Trinidad and Tobago's Sharntelle McLean in the women's 50-metre butterfly. Atkinson, 18, then had to call on every ounce of energy to win a nerve-jangling showdown with Mexico's Adriana Marmolejo to capture the 100-metre breaststroke.

She touched in at 1:12.24, just ahead of Marmolejo (1:12.41).

In women's basketball, Puerto Rico beat Barbados 68-53 with national captain Wanda Agard-Belgrave pouring in 18 points. On the squash courts, there was an early exit for Barbadians Karen Meakins and Sonia Perkins in the women's doubles, who lost to the Jamaican pair of Karen Anderson and Marlene Rabess after taking the first set.

The men's table tennis team that includes established players Trevor Farley and Abbie Clarke left the island yesterday morning for Colombia and are expected to be in action shortly.

Women's hockey is being played in Santo Domingo and the national team, bronze medallists four years ago, will play their opening match today against the host country.