20 May 2000 – Rio de Janeiro - Brazil took seven gold medals in Saturday's Ibero American games on a day in which three women set Championship records.
Mexico's Rosario Sanchez set the first record in the women's 10,000 metre walk, gaining the gold in 45 minutes and 38.9 seconds, beating Bolivia's Geovanna Irusta who took 45:59.95. Spain's Teresa Linares took the bronze with a time of 46:36.86.
In the women's 5,000 metres, Portugal's Fernanda Ribeiro set another Ibero American record, taking a commanding lead with a time of 15:29.47 to win the gold. In second place, Spain's Maria Abel trailed at 15:40.18 and Mexico's America Mateos took the bronze with 15:42.19.
In the women's 3,000-metre steeplechase, Brazil's Soraya Viera Teixeira set an Ibero American record running the course in 10:49.52. Second place went to compatriot Alcina Maria dos Reis with a time of 10:52.81. Veronica Paez of Argentina took the bronze with a time of 11:34.67.
In the men's 100m, Brazil's Vicente Lenilson de Lima won the gold clocking 10.28 seconds. Cuba's Luis Perez Rionda took silver with a time of 10.41 seconds. Then came Chile's Sebastian Keitel, a hair behind with 10.42 seconds.
In the women's 100m, Mexico's Liliana Allen took the gold clocking a time of 11.57 seconds. The silver went to Brazil's Rosemar Maria Coelho Neto with a time of 11.67. Mirtha Brock of Colombia came in third with 11.70 seconds.
In the women's 800-metres, Brazil's Luciana de Paula Mendes won with a time of 2:01.77. Mayte Martinez of Spain took the silver with 2:04.02 and bronze went to Portugal's Sandra Moya who clocked a time of 2:05.61.
It was also Brazil in the men's 800-metres, Hudson Santos de Souza took the gold with a time of 1:47.18. Countryman Marcio Wandre M. de Oliveira took the silver with 1:48.53 and third place went to Spain's Sergio Gallardo who ran 1:48.85.
The men's 400-metre hurdles went to Brazil as well, with Eronilde Nunes de Arujo running it in 49.35 seconds. In second place, came Chile's Carlos Zbinden with a time of 50.32 seconds. Brazil's Anderson Costa dos Santos ran third in 50.59 seconds.
Brazilian Ana Paula Carvalho Pereira pulled another gold for Brazil, winning the women's 400-metre hurdles in 57.59 seconds. Compatriot Jupira Maurina da Graca took second in 58.48 seconds and third went to Spain's Mayte Urcelay who clocked a time of 58.90.
In the men's long jump, Nelson Carlos Ferreira Junior of Brazil won with a jump of 7.90 metres. Second place went to Venezuela's Esteban Copland who jumped 7.81 metres and third place went to Cuba's Joan Lino Martinez Armenteros with 7.71 metres.
In the women's javelin throw, Spain's Dolores Pereira took the gold throwing 61.39 metres. Silver went to Argentina's Carina Moya who threw 58.90 and bronze went to Portugal's Vania Silva with a throw of 57.35 metres.
In the men's javelin, Cuba's threw 80.02 metres to take the gold. Bronze went to Paraguay's Nery Kennedy with a throw of 75.60 metres and Diego Moraga of Chile's threw 72.46 metres for third.
For many of the countries competing, the games, which continue through Sunday, represent the last chance to qualify for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney Australia.
