Peruvian athlete shines in Pan American Games
Julio Palomino's performance in the men's 3000 meter steeplechase at the Cali-Valle 2021 Pan American Games was brilliant. The victory did not come easy as the national athlete had to come from behind in the final stretch to claim the top spot on the podium.
It all happened on the track at the Pascual Guerrero Stadium, which was properly prepared for this discipline. From the beginning, the athlete representing Peru showed great concentration and agility, as he tried to use the least amount of time possible.
However, Mexican athlete Cesar Daniel Gomez Ponce proved to be a tough opponent, with a standout performance in the race. Both athletes were evenly matched in the final obstacles, but it was the Mexican delegate who had a slight advantage on the flat area, which seemed to secure his victory.
Despite this, as seen in the event's broadcast, Cesar Gomez had little energy left to cross the finish line. The situation was completely different for Peruvian athlete Julio Palomino, who still had one last push and began to accelerate, ultimately surpassing his opponent by a narrow margin.
In this way, the national athlete won the race and claimed the gold with a time of 8:56.56, while his Mexican counterpart won the silver medal with a time of 8:56.65. The third position, which awards the bronze medal, went to Argentine Tomas Vega, who was a little further behind, finishing the competition with 9:05.61.
After the competition, Julio Palomino proudly posed with the gold medal at the Junior Pan American Games and confirmed his talent for the 3000 meter steeplechase. He also claimed first place at the U23 South American Championship held in Ecuador in November of this year.