The national delegation of athletics, made up of 16 athletes, departed last Wednesday from the José Joaquín de Olmedo airport in Guayaquil, heading to Taicang, China, where they will represent Ecuador in the World Marching Championship, which will take place from May 5 to 6.

The tournament will start with the 50-kilometer competition, in which Ecuadorian athletes Claudio Villanueva, David Velásquez, and Darwin León will compete in the men's category. Meanwhile, Paola Pérez, Johana Ordóñez, Maritza Guamán, and Magaly Bonilla will compete in the women's category.

Villanueva has recovered from a respiratory condition that prevented him from being in the best conditions at the South American Championship in Sucúa, which took place in Ecuador last month.

Together with coach Luis Chocho, the team has been doing double training sessions to be in perfect condition. "We have prepared very hard for this World Championship and we hope to give our all on the track, demonstrating everything we have trained; we hope to do very well," said Claudio Villanueva at the end of his last practice before traveling.

Chocho believes that the preparation of the Ecuadorian athletes has been fine-tuned in each session. "Each of them has set their sights on the world championship to achieve their goals, each with their own responsibility, as it is a very high-level event, where the best athletes in the world will be present."

Paola Pérez is another contender to win a medal in China. The delegation's coach has confidence in the racewalker, who, along with the technical team of the racewalking school, evaluated her performance during the tournament in the United States, where she competed in the 30-kilometer event and won. Now her goal is to perform well in the 50 kilometers.

In the men's 20 kilometers, the country seeks to win a medal and stand on the podium again, for this they will have the participation of the experienced walkers Andrés Chocho, Mauricio Arteaga, Daniel Pintado, and Oscar Patín (Bolívar).

As it is a general tournament, the best representatives of the 10 km will compete for the title, such is the case of the youth world champion Glenda Morejón, and the Pan American champion David Hurtado. They, along with Paula Torres and Antonio Loja, are looking for prominent positions.

I aim to be among the top five in the world. We aspire for Ecuador to win a prominent place as a team.
Glenda Morejón, Ecuadorian athlete