Rolando Saquipay ECU - bib number 35 - heads the pack at the 2005 Pan-Am Race Walking Cup (© Federación Peruana de Atletismo)
Lima, the capital city of Peru was the host of the XII edition of the Pan-American Race Walking Cup, which took place last weekend, 7 and 8 May.
On a 2500m circuit on the streets of the neighbourhood of San Isidro, the 25 year-old Ecuadorian Rolando Saquipay won the Men’s 20Km. On Saturday (7 May), Saquipay, who was born in the town of Cuenca (21 July 1979), as was World record holder Jefferson Pérez, took the victory in 1:19:21, a new personal best and new Championship record.
Other South American athletes swept the podium. Colombian Luis Fernando López was second with 1:20:26, while Brazilian Sérgio Vieira Galdino was third in 1:21:29.
Saquipay, a law student at the “Universidad Católica” of Ecuador, had a previous personal best of 1:20:47, set when placing 12th at the 2004 IAAF World Cup in Naumburg, Germany. He also finished well at the Olympic Games in Athens; 17th place in 1:24:07.
The Men’s 50Km, which took place on Sunday (8 May), was won by Mexico’s Miguel Solis in 3:54:24. The 34 year-old also set a personal best, erasing his previous mark of 4:02:05, set on 20 March, at the IAAF Challenge Race in Tijuana, Mexico.
In this event, it was Mexico all the way, since the “Aztecas” took the top 4 places. Horacio Nava was second (3:59:26), Erasmo Vargas third (4:03:03) and Rogelio Sánchez fourth (4:04:05).
Salvadorian Cristina López won the Women’s 20Km on Saturday, setting a new national record of 1:30:35, also a new Championship record. The 22 year-old made a huge improvement to her personal best of 1:43:22, set this past 19 March, also at the IAAF Challenge race in Tijuana.
Ecuadorian Miriam Ramón, second in 1:31:25, also better a record, in this case the South American, while Mexican Graciela Mendoza was third in 1:33:04.
The events for junior athletes, both 10Km races, were taken by Peruvian Alex Tapia in 42:11 and Canadian Rachel Lavallee in 47:37.
Eduardo Biscayart for the IAAF
Results
Men
20Km (7 May)
1 Rolando Saquipay ECU 1:19:21 CR
2 Luis Fernando López COL 1:20:26
3 Sérgio Vieira Galdino BRA 1:21:29
4 Gustavo Adolfo Restrepo COL 1:22:01
5 Daniel García MEX 1:22:43
6 Fausto Quinde ECU 1:23:06
7 Gabriel Ortiz MEX 1:23:21
8 Edwin Centeno PER 1:24:54
9 Oswaldo Ortega ECU 1:25:51
10 Tim Seaman USA 1:27:18
50Km (8 May)
1 Miguel Solis MEX 3:54:24
2 Horacio Nava MEX 3:59:26
3 Erasmo Vargas MEX 4:03:03
4 Rogelio Sánchez MEX 4:04:05
5 Xavier Moreno ECU 4:05:38
6 Cristián Bascuñán CHI 4:07:54
7 Denis Estrada GUA 4:17:04
8 Philip Dunn USA 4:18:32
9 Jesús Sánchez MEX 4:20:35
10 Rodrigo Moreno COL 4:25:29
10Km – Junior (7 May)
1 Alex Tapia (86) PER 42:11
2 Robinson Vivar (87) ECU 42:28
3 Yassir Cabrera (88) PAN 43:20
4 Jhon Edinson García (86) COL 43:29
5 Edwin Ochoa (87) ECU 43:51
Women
20Km (7 May)
1 Cristina Esmeralda López ESA 1:30:35 CR
2 Miriam Ramón ECU 1:31:25
3 Graciela Mendoza MEX 1:33:04
4 Evelyn Núñez Fuentes GUA 1:36:18
5 Mabel Oncebay PER 1:37:57
6 Daisy González MEX 1:38:06
7 Diner Moreno COL 1:38:34
8 Amber Antonia USA 1:38:42
9 Yorelis Sánchez CUB 1:39:00
10 Bobbi Jo Chapman USA 1:39:47
10Km – Junior (8 May)
1 Rachel Lavallee (86) CAN 47:37
2 Maria Michta (86) USA 48:03
3 Verónica Colindres (86) ESA 48:06
4 Johana Ordónez (87) ECU 48:30
5 Jheny Llactahuamán (86) PER 48:53