X MENU
Institucional
Arequipa The Pan American torch celebration arriving in Lima on July 26 started its fourth route day in the White City. Marco Vilca Gonzales was the outstanding national athlete who started the torch route. He recently won the bronze medal at the South American Senior Championship held at the Athletics Stadium in VIDENA.
Marco is one of the best Peruvian U20 athletes and one of our leading contenders for the Lima 2019 Games, since he holds the national record for the 800 meters. Marco has been preparing to get the gold since he was 12 years old.
Race-walker Mary Luz Andía (pictured above, with glasses) was another of the most acclaimed athletes. She qualified for both Lima 2019 and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games one month ago, and became the fifth Peruvian athlete to secure her ticket to the Olympic event. Alfredo Quispe also took part in the relay, as well as Julio Pérez Risso, a renowned Athletics coach from Arequipa.
PARALYMPIC STAR
Yeny Vargas was another sports figure that carried the Pan American torch today. She represented Peru in Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. She was one of the most cheered athletes on the route, with fans acknowledging her effort all along.
Now, Jenny looks to get the gold in 200 and 400-meters events in the Lima 2019 Pan American Games after intense training in the High Performance Center in Arequipa.
Mario Ramírez Paredes, former karate world champion and sensei of hundreds of athletes from Arequipa, deservedly carried the Pan American torch along the last 200 meters, and lit the cauldron in the Main Square in front of the impressive Cathedral.
Mario, owner of the most famous Karate academy in Arequipa, was proud of participating in the event: “Arequipa is Peru and Peru will win, today and always,” he said.
THE ROUTE
After traveling for almost a kilometer, the Pan American Torch arrived at Sachaca stadium, where mayor Emilio Díaz Pinto was waiting. He and athlete Mercedes Espartanos Luque received the cauldron and handed it over to César Quiroz Rivera.
The torch continued its route along Avenida Fernandini, Tahuaycani, Víctor Andrés Belaúnde, Emmel, Avenida Ejército, Calle Jerusalén, Yanahuara square (district of Yanahuara), Chilina bridge, Avenida Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre and Calle Alvarez Thomas (Alto Selva Alegre).
It continued along Avenida Juan de la Torre, Progreso, San Martín, Calle Unión, Goyeneche, Manuel Muñiz Nájar (Miraflores), Avenida Independencia, Melgar Stadium, Avenida Jorge Chávez, Garcí de Carbajal, 28 de Julio, Álvarez Thomas and Arequipa's Main Square.
