Ecuadoran sprinter Yuleixi Anai Angulo in Cuenca (© Ecuadorian Athletics Federation (FEA))
Argentina’s Nazareno Sassia and Ecuador’s Yuleixi Anai Angulo wrote two new area records as Brazil dominated the 24th South American U18 Championships which concluded on Sunday (1) at Jefferson Perez stadium in Cuenca, Ecuador.
The city located at 2560m above sea level, also witnessed great results on the track as emerging local star Gabriela Anahí Suárez took a sprint triple with victories in 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay.
The 17-year-old Sassia tossed the 5kg shot to a massive 21.40m, a world lead in his age category and almost a metre better than his previous South American standard. He is billed as one of the top prospects for Argentina as it prepares to host the 3rd Youth Olympic Games in October.
Yuleixi Anai Angulo pleased the home crowd when she threw the 500g javelin to 54.33m, an expected improvement considering the Pan American U20 champion shows a personal best of 54.00m with the heavier 600g implement.
“We trained to break the record and we were aiming at more than 60 metres. This is a good result and I am happy,” said the young athlete from the El Oro region, who is trained by Flavio Corozo.
She and the rest of the Ecuadorian team travel to Tampere, Finland, on Monday to compete at the IAAF World U20 Championships starting next week.
On the track, Gabriela Anahí Suárez delighted her home crowd. On Saturday, she took the 100m victory in 11.84 into a head wind and led her squad to a hard-fought victory over favourites Brazil in the 4x100m relay, 46.94 to Brazil’s 47.28. Her other teammates were 100m hurdles winner Aimara Nazareno, Nicole Chalá and Gloria Rampay.
On Sunday, the 17-year-old stormed to a swift 23.57 win in 200m, very close to her best of 23.47 set two months ago at the National U20 Championships in Quito.
“I am so happy to achieve this. I would like to thank God and all of those who support my sporting career. I want to be world and Olympic champion,” said Suarez, who trains with her role model, Angela Tenorio.
Colombia’s Valeria Cabezas confirmed her talent over the 400m hurdles. The 16-year-old, sixth at the 2017 World U18 Championships, set a new championship record of 59.64. She had claimed the 100m hurdles bronze a day earlier.
Other notable winners were Chile’s Laura Elena Acuña with her double gold in 800m and 1500m and Argentina’s Gustavo Osorio in the Javelin (74.47m).
Brazil’s leading performers were Lucas Conceicao Vilar, the 200m winner in 21.34, Caio de Almeida Alves Teixeira, a double gold medallist in 400m and 400m hurdles and Marcos Paulo Leal Ferreira (13.69) in 110m hurdles.
Brazil also dominated the 8x300m mixed relay and finished on top of the medal tally with 30 medals (14 gold, 11 silver and 5 bronze), followed by Ecuador (10-6-9) and Colombia (9-8-8).
Local hero Jefferson Perez, the 1996 Olympic and three-time world champion in the 20km racewalk, attended the event in the stadium named in his honour. The event drew 332 athletes from 14 nations and served as a qualifier for the 3rd Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF
