Track cycling continues to bring great news to Colombia at the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games. In the women’s sprint, the team won gold and silver with Stefany Cuadrado and Marianis Salazar, respectively.
With this result, Cuadrado earned a direct spot at the Lima 2027 Pan American Games. Third place on the podium went to Trinidadian Makaira Wallace, who took the bronze medal after winning both times against Argentine track athlete Valentina Méndez.
With these new medals, the Colombian team now has five gold medals and two silver medals. The national team remains the absolute leader in this cycling event.
Argentina Wins the Gold Medal with Gruñeiro in the Omnium
Santiago Gruñeiro added another gold medal to Argentina’s medal tally by winning the men’s omnium during the penultimate day of track cycling at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, held at the velodrome of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee.
On his way to the top step of the podium, the Buenos Aires-born cyclist placed third in the scratch race, accumulating 36 points; he finished second in the tempo race, earning another 38 points; in the elimination race, he dropped to tenth place, earning 22 points, and in the points race, he won another 50, for a total of 146.
He was joined on the podium by Chilean Diego Rojas, who took the silver medal with 140 points, and Venezuelan Arlex Méndez, who won the bronze medal, with 122 points. Méndez, from Buenos Aires, had achieved the third-fastest qualifying time (11:259), which allowed her to face and defeat (12:146) Cuban Keila Leal (12:468) in the third round of the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, she defeated Venezuelan Yoheris Moreno, and in the semifinals, she was defeated by Colombian Marianis Salazar. She then advanced to the bronze medal match, but lost to Trinidadian Makaira Wallace, who ultimately took the third place on the podium, joining Colombians Stefany Cuadrado (gold) and Marianis Salazar (silver).
Another Argentine, Guadalupe Díaz from Catamarca, participated in this event. She placed eleventh (12:165) in qualifying and lost (12:360) to Colombian Marianis Salazar (12:053) in the round of 16. However, she took advantage of another opportunity that presented itself and won (12:273) in the repechage against Cuban Keila Leal (12:369) and Chilean Naharai Neira (12:546); she was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Colombian Stefany Cuadrado.
The track events at the Junior Pan American Games will conclude this Friday, August 15, in Paraguay, with the fourth and final day of competition at the Asunción Olympic Park velodrome. The event will feature the Madison and Keirin events in both categories.