The Pan American Athletics Championship delivered everything the Americas had been waiting for on its very first night. Twelve gold medals were awarded across the purple track and the throwing arenas of the Estadio Alfonso Galvis Duque, and when the final gun sounded, a South American record had been shattered in front of a packed house, host Colombia had claimed seven medals in a single session, and history had officially begun.
No moment from Day 1 will be remembered longer than what Ronal Longa produced in the men’s 100 meters final.
The fastest man in Colombia broke the South American men’s 100m record with a breathtaking 9.85 on Friday, June 26, at the Alfonso Galvis Duque Athletics Stadium. His performance bettered his Colombian record of 9.96, set last year in Savona, and improved Brazilian Erick Felipe Barbosa’s South American record of 9.92.
The mark places Longa in the top 20 of all time in the world. He now stands as the third-fastest man on the planet in 2026, behind only Oblique Seville, who leads the world with 9.82.
The race itself was a showcase of Pan American sprinting power. Canada’s Eliezer Adjibi, the reigning world relay champion, finished second in 9.92, also dipping below the 10-second barrier. Puerto Rico’s Eloy Benítez completed the podium in 9.98 — meaning all three medalists ran sub-10.
For Longa, it was a homecoming beyond expectations. “I had to push really hard because my teammates ran very well,” Longa told Panam Sports, before frantically seeking out his coach Nelson Gutiérrez for a photo in front of the electronic scoreboard. The gold medal also secured Longa direct qualification to the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima — a prize on offer for every individual champion at this inaugural championship.
“It meant so much to do this at home, in front of family, friends and fans, I am very happy,” he said.
Beyond Longa’s golden sprint, Colombia closed out the opening day with seven total medals — one gold, three silver, and three bronze — across the 12 finals contested on Friday.
In the women’s discus, Yerlin del Carmen Mesa claimed silver with a throw of 55.92 meters, while Isabella Hitas added bronze at 52.91 meters. Brazil’s Andressa Oliveira de Morais won gold with 58.97 meters.
The men’s 5,000 meters saw another Colombian podium effort. Carlos Sanmartín finished second in 14:46.00, taking silver behind Argentina’s Matías Reynaga, who won in 14:30.53. Mexico’s Iker David Sánchez rounded out the podium in third.
Shot putter Ronal Grueso, who surpassed the 19-meter mark once again, claimed bronze in the men’s shot put.
The 12 finals on the opening day produced the following results:
Women’s Shot Put: Gold — Dianelis Delis (CUB), 18.12m | Silver — Ivana Gallardo (CHI), 17.58m | Bronze — Rosa Ramírez (DOM), 17.45m
Women’s Discus: Gold — Andressa Oliveira (BRA), 58.87m | Silver — Yerlin Mesa (COL), 55.92m | Bronze — Isabella Hitas (COL), 52.91m
Women’s Pole Vault: Gold — Juliana de Menis (BRA), 4.45m | Silver — Alyssa Quiñones (PUR), 4.20m | Bronze — Jeniffer Elizarov (PER), 4.20m
Men’s 5,000m: Gold — Matías Reynaga (ARG), 14:30.53 | Silver — Carlos Sanmartín (COL), 14:46.00 | Bronze — Iker David Sánchez (MEX), 14:49.25
Men’s 100m: Gold — Ronal Longa (COL), 9.85 (South American Record) | Silver — Eliezer Adjibi (CAN), 9.92 | Bronze — Eloy Benítez (PUR), 9.98
Day 1 in Medellín did exactly what a historic championship opening should do: it produced a record that will echo across the continent, elevated the host nation in front of a passionate home crowd, and delivered fierce competition from every corner of the Americas.
On Day 2, eleven more gold medals are on the line. The morning session will include semifinals in the 400m hurdles, the 200m flat, and the 100m hurdles, before afternoon finals across both the track and the field.
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