Friday, November 24th, 2023.- With two new world records, Para Athletics shone this Friday at the Estadio Nacional.

At the Centro Atlético Mario Recordón, José Gregorio Lemos set a new world record in the javelin throw Class F37-38 (cerebral palsy) by launching the implement to 61.76 meters, breaking his own record of 60.58 meters set in Dubai 2022.

In the male's T20 100 meters, Samuel Oliveira clocked a time of 46.48 seconds, establishing himself as the world's best in his event.

On the other hand, outstanding athletes gave their best throughout the day, resulting in 13 new Parapan American records.

In athletics, in the T36 class (cerebral palsy), Argentinian Alexis Chávez surpassed his performance at Lima 2019 with a time of 11.83 seconds (compared to 12.24 seconds), adding another gold to his tally in these Games, as he had already won the 400 meters.

In the T53 (wheelchair) category, Brazilian Ariosvaldo Fernandes set a new record with 14.92 seconds, surpassing his own achievement at Guadalajara 2011 (15.08 seconds).

In the T54 category (wheelchair), Mexican Juan Pablo Cervantes also established a new Parapan American record, beating the time he had set in Lima 2019 (14.17 seconds).

Colombian Buinder Bermúdez, bronze medalist at Paris 2023, achieved a new Parapan American record in the T13 400 meters (visual impairment), finishing the distance in 49.50 seconds, surpassing the 50.39 seconds set by American Royal Mitchell 16 years ago at Rio 2007.

American Joel Gomez won the T13 1,500 meters (visual impairment), a victory that also allowed him to claim the Parapan American record. The 20-year-old clocked 3 minutes and 56.24 seconds, avenging the victory that slipped away by a fraction at Lima 2019, where he had to settle for silver.

On the penultimate day of Para Athletics at Santiago 2023, Guillermo Varona secured the gold medal and set a new Parapan American record in the male's javelin throw, F46 class. The winner sent the implement flying to a distance of 60.23 meters in his fifth throw.

Argentinian Brian Impellizzeri secured the gold medal in the T37-38 long jump (cerebral palsy) on Friday afternoon. Impellizzeri marked 6.65 meters in his second jump, enough to repeat the title he won four years ago in Lima 2019 at the Parapan American Games and, in the process, set a new Parapan American record for his class.

In the T47 400 meters (upper limb physical disability), Brazilian Fernanda da Silva won with a time of 56.89 seconds. In addition to breaking the Parapan American record, she claimed her second gold medal in this edition of the continental event, after celebrating in the 400 meters on Wednesday.

The female's discus throw F38 (cerebral palsy) event crowned Colombian Katty Hurtado with the gold medal and a new Parapan American record on Friday at the Centro Atlético Mario Recordón of the Estadio Nacional, with a mark of 37.61 meters achieved in the fourth attempt. Hurtado surpassed the record set by Canadian Renee Foessel, 30.75 meters, from the Toronto 2015 Games.

In the female's discus throw F55 (seated competition), Colombian Érica María Castaño clinched the gold medal and set a new Parapan American record, surpassing the achievement of Mexican Rosa María Guerrero at Lima 2019. Castaño recorded a throw of 26.21 meters in the fourth attempt, beating the North American's record from four years ago (22.64).

On the other hand, Raissa Rocha broke her own Parapan American record in the F56 javelin throw. The Brazilian achieved a mark of 22.69 meters, surpassing her previous record by five centimeters, set at Lima 2019.

Finally, Wanna Brito, also Brazilian, set a new Parapan American record in shot put. The thrower triumphed with a mark of 7.36 meters in the F32-33-34 category (cerebral palsy, competing in wheelchairs).

Written by Erwin Acevedo; translated by Rocio Rojas / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo by Javier Salvo / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport