Eduardo Biscayart for the IAAF
Brazil’s Maurren Maggi, was the star of the 40th edition (30th for women) of the South American Championships, which took place in Bogotá, Colombia from 25–27 June.
Competing on a brand new track at "El Salitre" park in the capital of Colombia, and aided by 2600m of altitude, the 23-year-old Maggi produced a fabulous 7.26 in the long jump –a new South American record- last Saturday. This magnificent performance, achieved on her 1st attempt, with a legal wind of 1.8 m/s puts the Brazilian at the top of the 1999 World Lists, ahead of illustrious names such as Marion Jones or Heike Drechsler.
On Friday, Maggi set another area record, in the 100m hurdles with 13.07 in the heats. Then in the final, she bettered the record again with 13.05, to take the title ahead of Verónica Depaoli (ARG) and Princesa Oliveros (COL).
But these were not the only area records set in the competition. On Friday, Lucimar de Moura (BRA) improved the 100m record in the heats with 11.17, a mark that she repeated in the final. De Moura also ran 22.60 in the 200m on Saturday, improving her own record of 22.75 set three weeks previously at the Brazilian Nationals in Rio.
Another Brazilian athlete, Elisângela Adriano became the 1st South American Women to pass the 19m barrier in the shot put, by reaching 19.02 on Saturday. She was also victorious in the discus throw with 60.27.
Ecuadorian Miriam Ramón, set an area best in the 20,000m Walk (event held for the 1st time in the competition) with 1:39:27.0, and Colombian Sabina Moya also set a South American best in the Javelin with 58.81, ahead of Brazilian Sueli dos Santos (58.16).
In the Pole Vault, the South American record holder, Argentinean Alejandra García, took the gold with 4.30m.
On the men’s side, Brazilian sprinter André Domingos da Silva, was fastest in the 100m, establishing a personal best of 10.06 placing him 2nd in the South American all-time lists, behind Robson da Silva. In the final, the favorite Claudinei da Silva (BRA), who ran 10.15 in the heats, fell just out of the blocks and did not finish the race. Later, he withdrew from the 200m.
Eronilde Nunes de Araújo (BRA) won his 5th title in a row in the 400m hurdles with 49.13. He was also the 1st leg of the 4x400m, the winning team with 3:02.09. Brazil also took the short relay in 38.46.
In the final medal count, Brazil was clearly the strongest nation with 23 golds, 14 silvers and 13 bronzes. The host, Colombia was 2nd with 9, 12 and 11, and Argentina was 3rd with 5, 4, and 5.
The elite of South American athletics was honored before the competition - the oldest athletics area championships in the world - celebrating this year its 80th anniversary. The 1st edition took place in Montevideo in 1919.
The Champions.
Men
100: André Domingos da Silva BRA 10.06; 200: Edson Ribeiro BRA 20.54w; 400: Anderson Jorge dos Santos BRA 45.39; 800: Hudson de Souza BRA 1:49.82; 1500: Mauricio Ladino COL 3:49.95; 5000/10000: Silvio Guerra ECU 14:20.35/30:30.20; 3000m St: Pablo Ramírez ECU 9:11.21; 110h: Luiz André Balcers BRA 13.76; 400h: Eronilde de Araújo BRA 49.13; HJ: Fabrizio Romero BRA 2.26; PV: Ricardo Diez VEN 5.20; LJ: Lewis Asprilla COL 7.96; TJ: Anisio Souza e Silva BRA 16.48; SP: Edson Miguel BRA 17.86; DT: Marcelo Pugliese ARG 59.23; HT: Juan Cerra ARG 72.09; JT: Nery Kennedy PAR 78.89; Decathlon: Santiago Lorenzo ARG 7344; 4x100/4x400: Brazil 38.46/3:02.09; 20000m W: Sergio Galdino BRA 1:31:04.7.
Women
100/200: Lucimar de Moura 11.17/22.60; 400: Norfalia Carabalí 52.92; 800m: Luciana Mendes BRA 2:05.62; 1500: Bertha Sánchez COL 4:35.75; 5000/10000: Stella Castro COL 16:45.63/34:30.92; 100h/LJ: Maurren Maggi BRA 13.05/7.26; 400h: Ana Paula Pereira 58.06; HJ: Luciane Dambacher BRA 1.87; PV: Alejandra García ARG 4.30; TJ: Luciana dos Santos BRA 13.90; SP/DT: Elisângela Adriano 19.02/60.27; HT: Carina Moya ARG 60.69; JT (new model) Sabina Moya COL 58.81; Heptathlon: Euzinete Reis BRA 5741; 4x100/4x400: Colombia 44.12/3:32.74; 20000m W: Miriam Ramón ECU 1:39:27.0.
