High-speed gold for Matanzas’s athlete at the Bogota 2023 Games.

Pedro José Urgellés, an athlete from Matanzas, reigned in the 100 meters T12 category, by stopping the clocks in 11.55 seconds, in the V Parapan American Youth Games, held today in a very crowded stadium of the Unidad Deportiva El Salitre, in Bogota.

The definition of the event was carried out directly, in two heats, and the podium was organized according to the best times. After the Cuban came the Venezuelan Laguna Cepeda (11.61) and the Colombian Ospina Rodríguez (11.86).

«I experienced this very well, at the beginning I was a little nervous, it is normal in these competitions. The race was good, stable,» the champion told JIT, as soon as the result was confirmed.

In terms of feelings, Urgellés dedicated the victory to his mother and family, but also to his coach, without whom he would not have made it this far.

He affirmed that the victory is just the beginning of his international career, in the midst of a beautiful experience that allows him to share with similar people and get to know the Colombian culture.

In the same event, but in the T12 category, Havana’s Adelvis Durán won an outstanding bronze medal, escorting two Jamaican representatives: Jonathan Ferguson (11.43) and Jahmarl Richards (11.61).

The West Indian sprinter had qualified for the medals with 11.99 seconds, the third best time in the semifinals. Then, at zero hour, he crossed the finish line in 11.85 and left Argentine José Martin Páez (11.86) in fourth place by «nothing».

«They were two very strong races, with a lot of demand, but the result came out and we reached the podium. I’m happy. I improved a lot from the semifinal to the final, I felt more confident because I already knew my rivals. I was aiming for a lot, but I am happy to take this medal to Cuba», said Durán to JIT before dedicating his result to his family, coaches and all those who helped him.

This Monday afternoon, Daniel Milanés (T47) and Geiser Isalgue (T35) will compete in the 400 meters flat.