U.s., Israel Battling for Medals at the 11th Maccabiah

As the 11th Maccabiah Games starts its wind-down, it is clearly evident that the battle for medals is between the United States and Israel and will be settled on the basketball court and in the track and field events. Currently the U.S. leads with 59 gold medals to Israel’s 42, while Israel is ahead of the U.S. in total medals with 137-131. The other countries are lagging far behind, with South Africa having a total of 30 medals including II gold.

The South Africans are hurting since they can only compete in sports in which they are not excluded by the international governing bodies.

The American women’s basketball team didn’t fare too well in the basketball finals when it yielded to Israel 93-70 at the Kfar Maccabiah court. Barbara

Weiner of Philadelphia kept the U.S. in the running early with her playmaking, but the Israelis had too much height and savvy for the Americans who practiced together a total of nine days.

The U.S. reached the semi-finals in the men’s basketball events when it swamped Uruguay Tuesday night by over 100 points. The club has to get by Canada to meet Israel for the title. Israel already has beaten the Canadians in the eight-team round robin by 12 points.

In an exciting jump-off in the high jump competition, Jason Meisler, a recent UCLA graduate edged out Israel’s Gideon Harmat when he cleared 2.19 meters (72 1/4) after tying with the Israeli at 2.17 in the regular competition.

NEW MACCABIAH RECORD

William Lipsey of Evanston, III. established a new Maccabiah record in the 110 meters hurdles at 15.09 seconds while Gary Willicky, a high school All-American, out of Boca Raton, Florida, captured the discus throw with a toss of 57.18 meters. The U.S. continued its chances for a medal in soccer by downing Sweden 3-1 in the long series of football matches.

After the second round in men’s golf singles, Joel Hirsch of the U.S. continued his lead with 147 points followed by teammate Joel Gross of Pembroke Pines, Florida with 148. Hirsch, a top flight linksman, took a second place in the Dixie amateur in 1980 and played in the British amateur finals last month and took down third place in the northern amateur in 1980 as well as a third in the 1980 Illinois State amateur.

Team-wise, the Americans lead Canada 598 points to 611 with South Africa third at 625 tallies. American Renee Heading of Wesley Chapel, Florida, maintained her lead in the women’s singles with 160 points to Ms. Halman of Great Britain in second position with 163 points. Overall, the South African women’s team is leading, with the U.S. in the third spot.

In judo, Moss Brad took a first in the over 95 kg weight while teammate Hyman Barry of New York City, coach of the Columbia University judo team, captured a third in the up to 95 kg division. On the rowing front, U.S. came first in quadruple sculls while taking all the water events. In singles Scot Fisher won.

In the next to last round standings in Bridge, the U.S. stands second to France with 180 1/2 points to the first place unit’s 186. In tennis semifinals, American defending woman top seeded Dana Gilbert will meet Anette Leand, a teammate while a third American, Patricia Schiff, goes against South African Elana Smukler, seeded second to Gilbert. Brad Gilbert, brother of Dana, is the only American in the semis.