Tuesday, October 31th, 2023.- Santiago Ford is emerging as one of the revelations of Team Chile at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games. The Cuban-born Chilean citizen, who arrived in the country in 2018 due to a lack of opportunities for progress among Caribbean athletes, holds onto second place in the decathlon after finishing at the top of his heat in the 110m hurdles on Tuesday.

Ford, who obtained Chilean citizenship in November 2022 and spent five years in the Cuban national team, currently sits as the second-ranked participant in the combined event with 4,985 points, with four disciplines remaining. He secured victories in the long jump and high jump, took third place in the shot put, seventh in the 100m and 400m, and fourth in the hurdles, with a time of 14.58 seconds.

His performance in the hurdles brings him within 70 points of the current leader in the partial rankings, American athlete Samuel Jay Black. Ford's best historical result was achieved in the South American Championships in Sao Paulo in June, with a score of 7,845 points, potentially setting up a battle for the gold with the American, whose best score is 7,946.

The decathlon will conclude in the evening session, following the events of discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and the 1,500m race, which are scheduled to finish after 9:00 p.m. at the Arena Central of the Estadio Nacional.

Written by Nicolás Olea; translated by Josefina Zamrano / Santiago 2023 via Photosport
Photo by Dante Fernandez / Santiago 2023 via Photosport