Ecuador finishes second in the South American U-18 Athletics Championship and qualifies ten athletes for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games
With 25 medals, including 10 gold, 6 silver, and 9 bronze, Ecuador reached 268 points, only behind Brazil with 319 points (14 gold, 11 silver, and 5 bronze), surpassing Colombia, who scored 214 points (9-8-8) and came in third.
Gabriela Suárez, Yuleixi Angulo, Aimara Nazareno, María Belén Villalba, Óscar Patín, Merari Herrera, Lorna Zurita, Kevin Bueno, Jean Marcos Mairongo, and Justin Herrera secured their spots for the Youth Olympic Games.
Suárez is the best in the continent in the 100 and 200 meters race; Angulo broke her South American record in javelin throw with 54.33 meters.
Nazareno, who improved her record (13.86s) in the 100m hurdles, is first in the South American ranking and among the top six in the Americas.
In race walk, Villalva confirmed being the best in the region in the 5,000 meters and improved her record with 24m17.79s; Óscar Patín clocked 46m54.86s in the 10,000 meters.
On the other hand, Herrera won the gold in discus throw with 44.97 meters and climbed to fourth place in the American ranking to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games. Her teammate Zurita won the gold medal in shot put with 15.84 meters, and that result allowed her to secure the last continental spot in the specialty. Kevin Bueno won gold in triple jump in the South American Championship and will also compete in Buenos Aires 2018.
Among the last athletes to qualify for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games are Jean Marcos Mairongo in javelin throw and Justin Herrera in high jump. (D)