Ayelen Zapata claims two golds at South American Championships

The South American Modern Pentathlon Championships held in Chile this weekend at the Military Academy in Santiago saw Argentina’s Ayelen Zapata triumph in the Senior women’s draw before claiming a second gold by teaming up with Emanuel Zapata to take the Mixed Relay title.

In Santiago, Ayelen Zapata beat Brazil’s Priscilla Oliveira to the top prize whilst Larissa Lellys had to settle for bronze. The 23-year-old looked in fine form in the combined as he blistering time of 13:35.61 made the difference after she had struggled in the morning fence.

Ayelen Zapata then combined with her Emanuel Zapata in the Mixed Relay to win gold once more to cap a memorable competition for herself.

In the men’s, Chile’s Esteban Bustos perfect ride and time of 11:40.56 in the combined ensured he took the gold ahead of Brazil’s Felipe Nascimiento and Emanuel Zapata of Argentina.

16-year-old Javiera Roses put in a display of such high technical standards in the women’s Youth competition that she was the stand-out performer of the weekend. Her poise and maturity ensured she scooped gold with an impressive total of 3,468 points. This was her second continental title after she had claimed the Sudama Junior trophy last year. The talented Roses held off stiff challenges from Bianca Cavalcanti and Argentina’s Cisneros Ailen who claimed silver and bronze respectively. Roses had come second in the fence with 976 points before finishing third in swimming with a time of 2.25,97 before a blistering 15.40,11 lap in the combined put her on her way to a sumptuous gold.

In the men’s Youth draw, local hope Benjamin Ortiz finished fourth with 4,000 points in a day dominated by Brazil and Argentina. The gold went to Brazil’s Yan Freitas after he claimed a total of 4,240 points with Leandro Corradini of Argentina taking silver, and fellow Brazilian Victor Barbosa with bronze.