An American kayaking team that included Kailua brothers Ryan and Pat Dolan came up short of breath but long on results at last weekend’s Sprint Pan American Championships in Mexico City.

The U.S. team received no funding for the event, which is the qualifier for next year’s Pan Am Games and first step in qualifying for the 2012 Olympics. Team USA arrived just before the competition started, while most teams came in three weeks early to get used to the 7,500-foot elevation.

The U.S. also had to borrow boats when its rentals turned out to be "sub-standard," USA Canoe & Kayak coach Guy Wilding said.

Still, competing against 15 countries from North and South America, the U.S. was third in the medal count, behind Canada and Mexico. The U.S. men qualified all six boats for the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara.

Ryan Dolan captured two bronze medals. He finished third in his first K1 500-meter event at the senior international level. He matched that in the K1 200, with a time (35.23 seconds) that would have placed fourth at the recent World Championships.

Older brother Patrick qualified in the K2 1,000 by placing fifth with Morgan House.