Wednesday, October 25, 2023.- Track cycling at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games continued with its various disciplines on Wednesday at the Velodrome at Parque Peñalolén, where the best athletes have gathered until this Friday in pursuit of medals.

The morning session featured the female's keirin and the male's sprint events, setting the stage for the afternoon sessions.

In the female's keirin, the following cyclists advanced to the final: Colombia's Martha Bayona (the defending gold medalist from Lima 2019), Chile's Daniela Colilef, Jamaica's Dahlia Palmer, Mexico's Luz Gaxiola, Argentina's Natalia Vera, and the United States' Mandy Marquardt.

Chilean cyclist Colilef, who reached her first Pan American finals, stated after the race, "I am happy to qualify for the final. Since 2018, I couldn't make it to these stages in the keirin. We will go for gold this afternoon to lift Chile to the highest."

"The finishes are being decided by milliseconds. The bikes have no brakes, so it's all about going strong and straight, trying to stay as steady as possible to reach the finish line. I like it, and it's very entertaining," she added.

On the male's side, Trinidad and Tobago's Nicholas Paul had a remarkable day, breaking his own Pan American record in the sprint event (set in Lima 2019) with a time of 9.574. This established him as the favorite for the event.

"It feels great to come to Chile, to be back at the Pan American Games, to set the Pan American Games record again, and to start the Sprint competition well. I felt really good to go out and do that; I'm very happy," Paul said after the race.

The athlete added, "It's always a great pleasure to come to the Pan American Games and compete in front of a great audience, especially here in Chile, where there is a great track. I have to say that I'm happy."

During Wednesday afternoon, starting at 6:05 p.m., the male's sprint quarter-finals will take place. The female's keirin final is scheduled for 7:23 p.m.

It's important to remember that, from 6:29 p.m., the women's team pursuit final will be held, making it an evening full of exciting events at the Velodrome at Parque Peñalolen.

Written by Patricio Echagüe and Manfred Schwager; translated by Josefina Zamorano / Photosport.
Photo: Javier Salvo / Santiago 2023 via Photosport