Iris Smith wins bronze medal in women's event at Yarygin Memorial in Russia, giving the U.S. two wom

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Rusty Davidson ()
02/02/2003


Iris Smith (Fort Carson, Colo./U.S. Army) won a bronze medal at 72 kg/158.5 pounds, competing in the final day of the women's competition at the Yarygin Memorial International in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Feb. 2.    Smith joins 51 kg/112.25 pound silver medalist Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), who finished her competition on Saturday.    Smith lost a 4-0 decision to Russia's Anna Chamova in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal match, Smith claimed an injury default victory over Anastacia Deshneva of Greece. Smith had defeated Deshneva 7-6 earlier in the tournament.    Two other U.S. wrestlers entered the day undefeated and in medal contention, but settled for fourth after losing two bouts: Patricia Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) at 48 kg/105.5 pounds and Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 63 kg/138.75 pounds. Both were members of the 2002 U.S. Women's World Team.    Miranda dropped an 8-1 decision to veteran Inga Karamchakova of Russia in the semifinals. She was also defeated in the bronze-medal match by Makiko Sakamoto of Japan, 8-5.    McMann lost her semifinal bout to Alena Kartachova of Russia, 8-4, then fell in the bronze-medal bout to Anna Gogorneva of Russia in overtime, 8-7.    "It's easy to feel disappointed today," said U.S. coach Rusty Davidson. "We had two fantastic days.  This one was rough.  We have to go home, heal, evaluate, and improve.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the shuttle crew."    IVAN YARYGIN MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL  At Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Jan. 31-Feb. 2  U.S. women's results    48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Patricia Miranda, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC), 4th - dec.  Lilia Kaskarakova (Russia), 4-1; dec. Irina Merleni (Greece), 7-1; lost dec. to Inga Karamchakova (Russia), 8-1; lost dec. to Makiko Sakamoto (Japan), 8-5.    51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 2nd  - tech fall over Kararina Pelevinia (Russia), 13-3; pin Natalia Ilbina (Russia), 5:58; pin Natalia Uvedova (Russia) 3:28; tech. fall over Elena Andrieva (Russia), 12-1; lost pin to Elena Tolstenko (Russia), 5:06    55 kg/121 lbs. - Tina Wilson, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army), dnp - dec. Naidan Otgonzhargal (Mongolia), 5-2; lost dec. to  Natalia Karamchakova (Russia), 3-1.    63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Sara McMann, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 4th - dec. Ludmila Golovchenko (Ukraine), 11-3; pin Kristina Odrina (Latvia), 3:28; tech. fall over Olga Khilko (Bulgaria), 10-0; lost dec. to Alena Kartachova (Russia), 8-4; lost dec. to Anna Gogorneva (Russia), 8-7, ot.    72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Iris Smith, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army), 3rd - dec. Karina Shedoyan (Russia), 3-0; dec. Svetlana Mikailina (Russia), 7-0; dec.  Anastasis Deshneva (Greece), 7-6; lost dec. to Anna Chamova (Russia), 4-0; won by inj. dft. over Anastasis Deshneva (Greece)