SANTIAGO, Chile — The big names in the athletics at the 2023 Para Pan American Games showed that they are still at the top of the game with gold going the way of the superstars on the first day of competition on the track and in the field.
Omar Durand (guide: Yuniol Kindalen) cruised to gold in the women’s 200m T12 for the third straight time. It wasn’t just winning that was expected it was the margin as the Cuban finished two seconds clear of silver medalist Alejandra Perez (VEN) with a time of 23.63.
That wasn’t her best time of the event, breaking the meet record with a 23.59 in the qualifying round. If she can shave half a second in the next year she could break her own world record in Paris.
One world record did fall, with Elizabeth Rodrigues (BRA) breaking her own women’s discus F53 record. At 58 years old Rodrigues just keeps getting better, breaking the world record she set in Tokyo with a throw of 17.80m, winning the gold and sending a message to the rest of the world.
“I am extremely happy with this world record. It means that the work that we are doing is great. I am already preparing for Paris 2024, but this result in the Parapan American Games makes me feel like if I were in my first competition”, said Rodrigues after the event.
Brazil’s favorites continued winning in the men’s 5000m T11 with Yeltsin Jacques Ortega (guide: Edelson De Avila) running 15:13.10. That saw him demolish the meet record by 26 seconds, showing continued improvement after winning gold in Tokyo.
There was a Brazilian battle in the women’s 200m T11 in a thrilling race. Jerusa Gerber edged out Thalita Simplico, reversing their finishing order from the Paralympic Games where they were second and third. Gerber went on to tell the world that the 100m is the one she really expects to do well as it is her preferred event.
Another meet record fell in the women’s shot put F20 through Poleth Isamar Mendes (ECU) as she extended the record with a throw of 13.91 for her second straight gold in the event.
The biggest upset of the day came in the men’s 400m T38 as American Ryan Medrano beat Mexico’s Paralympic Champion, Jose Rodolfo Chessani.
Brazil is well out in front in the Para Pan American Games medal tally with 67 gold, 45 silver and 43 bronze. The USA is second but well off the pace with 20 gold.
All photos: Marcelo Hernández / Santiago 2023 via Photosport
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