PERU GETS ITS FIRST MEDAL IN THE SOUTH AMERICAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIP

The Peruvian team was awarded the first medal on the second day of the South American Athletics Championship. The Peruvian race-walker Leyde Guerra got on the podium for the 20 km event after finishing third with a time of 1:32:35 behind Ecuadorian Karla Jaramillo and Bolivian Ángela Castro.

Leyde, who was born in Rochas in the province of Huancayo, said this medal is just one step to win a medal for the Pan American Games. “I wanted a gold medal, but I couldn’t do it. Victory slipped through my fingers, but I feel happy to get the first medal for Peru”, she said.

With the support of Elisabeth Ibarra, her school teacher, Leyde started race walking at 11 years old. It only took coach Pedro Cañizares a couple of minutes after seeing her race walking to add her to the team. “Leyde is on her way. She can become a great race walker. She is following in Kimberly García’s footsteps, her role model.

Peruvian race walker Evelyn Inga finished in the fourth place. Still, Kimberly García’s absence was felt. She did not participate in the South American championship due to an injury and preferred to recuperate to seek the gold medal in Lima 2019.