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Medellín, at 1,495 meters above sea level, is the capital of Antioquia, a mountainous province in Colombia. Nicknamed the “City of Eternal Spring” for its temperate climate, it hosts the famous annual Flower Festival. Modern cable cars connect the city to the surrounding neighborhoods and offer views of the Aburrá Valley below. Sculptures by Fernando Botero decorate Plaza Botero in the city center, while the Museo de Antioquia displays other works by Colombian artists.
From June 26, 2026, to June 28, 2026, Medellín hosted the 2026 edition of the Pan American Athletics Championships. The six-round event (three morning and three afternoon) was held under the auspices of Panam Athletics – Asociacion Panamericana de Atletismo.
The walking events were held in the morning section on Sunday, June 28.
The men’s half marathon walk started at 6:15 a.m., a somewhat rare time in European races, while the women’s half marathon walk started at 7:50 a.m.
Half Marathon Men
Thirteen athletes representing the following nations showed up at the start: Ecuador, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, the USA, Venezuela, Panama, and the host country Colombia.
South American star Caio Bonfim (BRA) was absent.
The battle for the gold medal between Ivan Dario Oña Colcha (ECU) and Ricardo Ortiz Rivera (MEX) was interesting.
The finish order saw Dario Oña Colcha in first place in 1:27:03 (he had stopped the clock at 1:24:54 last May 23 in La Coruna arriving 9th) while Ricardo Ortiz Rivera took silver in 1:27:31 (he had stopped the clock at 1:24:59 last May 23 in La Coruna arriving 11th).
The bronze went to local athlete Eider Orlando Arévalo Truque (COL) in 1:28:24 (he had stopped the clock at 1:23:59 last May 8 in Podebrady arriving 5th).
Twelve athletes completed the race.
Women’s Half Marathon
Ten athletes representing the following nations showed up at the start: Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, USA, and Venezuela.
This race, too, was missing two top athletes: Alegna Gonzalez (MEX), Kimberly Garcia Leon (PER) and Paula Milena Torres .
As in the men’s race, the women’s race also came down to the final stages, with Evelyn Carla Inga Huaynalaya (PER) beating Glenda Estefania Morejon Quiñonez (ECU) in her first official Area championship race after returning from maternity.
The finish order saw Evelyn Carla Inga Huaynalaya in first place in 1:35:34 (she had stopped the clock at 1:34:01 last May 23 in La Coruna arriving 14th), while silver went to Glenda Estefania Morejon Quiñonez in 1:35:44 (new personal best).
Morejon obtained this season the following results in Half Marathon Walk:
– 1:37:54 last May 8 in Podebrady arriving 11th
– 1:38:18 last May 23 in La Coruna arriving 22nd
Bronze went to Alejandra Ortega Solis (MEX) in 1:38:09. She finished this season her 5th Half Marathon Walk with the following results.
| Date | Discipline | Mark | Competition | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 JUN 2026 | Half Marathon Race Walk | 1:38:09 | Pan American Athletics Championships, Alfonso Galvis Duque Stadium, Medellín | 3 |
| 23 MAY 2026 | Half Marathon Race Walk | 1:32:59 | XXXIX Gran Premio Cantones de A Coruña de Marcha, La Coruña | 4 |
| 12 APR 2026 | Half Marathon Race Walk | 1:35:21 | Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26, Brasilia | 2 |
| 07 MAR 2026 | Half Marathon Race Walk | 1:35:57 | 45th Dudinska 50, Dudince | 3 |
| 22 FEB 2026 | Half Marathon Race Walk | 1:38:16 | Tour Internacional de Marcha Guadalajara, Ciudad de México | 1 |