Bermuda’s hopes of securing another athletics medal at the Junior Pan American Games in Paraguay went up in smoke this evening after Nirobi Smith-Mills finished fifth in the 800 metres final at the Athletics Stadium.

Smith-Mills stopped the clock in 1min 50sec to finish less than a second outside the medals.

The Bermudian, who got into the final after two rivals were disqualified, had been attempting to emulate compatriot Caitlyn Bobb, the women’s 400 metres silver medal-winner, but ultimately came up short of the podium.

Puerto Rican Angel Miguel led the field across the line in a Games record time of 1:48.79 to secure the gold medal.

Canadian John O’Reilly (1:49.12) and Mexican Amando Amador (1:49.14) claimed the silver and bronze medals to complete the podium.

The top four runners, which also included Brazilian Tulio Goncalves (1:49.29), finished inside of the previous race record of 1:49.30.

Also flying Bermuda’s flag on the penultimate day of the Games was golfer Oliver Betschart, whose medals hopes are all but over in the individual event at Asunción Golf Club.

The top amateur is tied for eighteenth at 15 over, 19 shots off the lead pace and 16 shy of the third and final spot on the podium.

Betschart was two over shortly after making the turn in the third and final round when rain brought play to a halt.

With nine holes left, the 17-year-old will attempt to finish strongly when play resumes tomorrow, weather-permitting.

Organisers had hoped to complete the second and thirds round yesterday owing to thunderstorms in the Saturday forecast.

Betschart shot 78 in the second round, which included a birdie, five bogeys and a double bogey, grappling with narrow fairways, small greens and blustery conditions.

It was a subtle improvement from the previous day, having carded 79 in the opening round.

Argentinian Gabriel Morataya holds a two-shot advantage over the rest of the field.

Paraguay’s Lopez Fernandez sits in second and Puerto Rican Alejandro Caraballo in third, a farther shot back of the leader.

Bermuda have won three medals at the Games, which conclude today, with sailor Sebastian Kempe and Bobb both earning silver and swimmer Jack Harvey a bronze.