Santiago, 01 (AE) – Brazilian athletics had good reasons to smile at the Pan American Games in Santiago this Wednesday. There were two gold medals, one bronze, and five more places for the finals this Thursday at the Julio Martínez National Stadium Coliseum.
The double on the 110m hurdles podium came with gold for Eduardo de Deus (13.67) and bronze for Rafael Pereira (14.04). The marks were not so good due to the poor condition of the track, cold and damp. The continent’s record is 12.80, held by American Aries Merrit. Silver went to De’vion Wilson, from the USA, with 13.78.
“I’m very happy with the medal, very happy. It was a competition for medals, but the result was far below what we can do. The competition came at a very bad time for us in athletics, very late, but I am happy to have two on the podium, this gives us morale for next year’s Olympics”, celebrated Eduardo de Deus.
Brazil also reached the top of the podium in the 400m, with Lucas Villar Conceição confirming his favoritism and crossing in 45.77. Namesake Lucas Carvalho lost steam at the end and ended up fourth, in 46s84. Silver went to Mexican Luis Antonio Àviles, with 45.97, followed by Chilean Martin Kouyoumdjian, bronze with 46.58.
“We were all focused. In the midst of so many high-level athletes, I was focused on my running and that helped me become Pan-American champion”, said Lucas, who explained the reason for running with sunglasses. “It’s something for concentration, so that I can’t see my opponents and can just focus on my lane.”
This Thursday, Brazil will compete for medals in the women’s 200m final with Ana Carolina de Jesus, who was the best in her semifinal with 23.61, and also in the 400m hurdles, with four green and yellow representatives competing for gold.
In the women’s category, Chayenne Pereira was the best of the day, with 57.85 in her heat, while Marlene Ewellyn Santos came in 2nd, with 58.29. In the men’s category, Matheus Lima, first in his heat, with 49.94, and Márcio Soares, third in his semifinal, with 51.20, were guaranteed.
