1st day in Oostende: 300m time-trial and 10K-points/eliminations races

First races, first records… The 2013 World Championships got off to a great start! The Colombian delegation has been really impressive today with a total of eleven medals…

300M time-trial

New World record for Yersy Puello (COL) and Andres Munoz (COL)!

300m junior men The incredible performances of Yersy Puello (25”993) and Andres Munoz (23”896) in the Senior category clearly symbolize the unbelievable domination of Colombia during the 300m time-trial, from the Junior ladies to the Senior men.
This is without saying that a few minutes before Munoz’ performance, his compatriot had firstly beaten the World record (24”108). Andres Munoz is now the first man in the World having passed under the fateful 24 seconds.

It is indeed rare enough to underline the performance: Colombia took first and second places in almost all categories (except for the Senior ladies were Colombians took Gold and Bronze)! That means that, out of the twelve possible medals, Colombia took eight of them.

Four nations however managed to open their counter in the first sprint races of the World Championships: China Taipei got the Bronze in the Junior ladies, Germany also took the Bronze in the Junior men, Chile came second in the Senior ladies, and the last medal was grabbed by Spain in the Senior men.

10K-Points/Eliminations races

And the show must go on… Two new World record!

Yersy Puello leading the pack What an amazing evening! After the incredible World Records grabbed on the 300m by the Colombians, two other World Records were broken tonight on the 10K-Points/Eliminations race. Thus, Yang Hochen (China Taipei) not only won the race (13 points) in the Senior ladies category, but she also won the sprint, finished the 10K in 15’26″970, and therefore broke the former World record.

In the Senior men category, while Bart Swings was already enjoying his crazy victory (27 points) in the last lap after having dominated the whole race, Fabio Francolini grabbed the last three points of the arrival, not only allowing him to take the bronze medal, but also making him become the new holder of the World Record on the distance (14’23″546).

In the Junior categories, Colombians were almost as strong as in the 300m! The Colombians girls came first and second after an impressive race. The first one, Johana Viveros grabbed 20 points, while her compatriot, Fabriana Arias took 12 of them. Yu Ga Ram (South Korea) finished third with 10 points.

The Junior men race was also won by a Colombian, Boris Pena, who grabbed 15 points. It was tighter, though. Indeed, the second skater, the Italian Stefano Mariano, took 13 points. The third and the fourth ones, respectively Chen Yenpo (China Taipei) and Alfonso Cujavane (Colombia), both got 11 points.