A silver medal, a sixth place and a mark for Paris, but the athletic march without a national plan | REPORT

These are steps that are leading Peru to glory, a long walk that continues to leave the national colors at the top of world athletics. The Peruvian athletic march is affirmed as the new flagship sport of our country, the same size as, say, the national marathon and surfing. Sports flag, sports star.

You only have to see the results in the World Athletics Championships. In Budapest, a contest that ends today with the Hungarian captain, once again Kimberly García has achieved a place on the podium with second place in the 35km test, but it’s not just her anymore. Evelyn Inga registered her name as the sixth in the world, while César Rodríguez achieved the mark for Paris 2024 in the 20km.

Meanwhile, in yesterday’s women’s marathon, Zaida Ramos finished in 35th place with a time of 2:36:03, being the third best Latin American in the event. Nicolasa Condori did 2:42:2, and Aydee Loayza finished in 2:45:40. Meanwhile, Nelson Ito and Luis Ostos in the men’s event came in 46th place (2h.20.00) and 57th (2h.25.50), respectively.

-Balance-

These are ongoing results to be proud of. Despite this, it seems that in Peru people do not applaud if it is not a medal, as if it was enough to raise your hand and ask for it. However, Peruvian athletes are competing in the elite, many of them paying for their own trips, their training.

The scene inflates the chest just the same: “I know that, like me, they expected something more… but I dedicate this silver medal to them,” Kimi told Atletismo Peruano after achieving second place in the demanding 35km event. Peru wanted to see her shine again in gold, like last year in Oregon, but we must celebrate that Kimberly remains at the top of her discipline, making her dream that in Paris 2024 she can be the protagonist of her.

“It is the third absolute world medal for our country. With this result, she confirms that she is the most successful athlete in history and this leads us to think that that fifth Olympic medal has never been so close, which we hope will be fulfilled next year”, says Giorgio Mautino, former athlete and specialist in this sport.

Daisy Zereceda, director of the Atletismo Peruano portal, is in Budapest covering every movement of the national delegation. From there she tells us that the Peruvian march “is highly respected”; She assures that coaches from other countries ask about how Kimberly trains, the details of the plans that exist and the achievements that she has been reaching.

“Alfredo Quispe told me [entrenador de Mary Luz Andía, Evelyn Inga y Luis Henry Campos] that a Japanese told him: ‘When you win a medal, a great door opens for other Peruvians to see that it is not unattainable’ And it has been seen”, Daisy tells us. And we have seen, with Evelyn’s growth, the good return of Mary Luz, who was injured last year and was her mother. They are following the steps that Kimberly marks.

But also in men the level is maintained. César Rodríguez could not repeat the top ten from last year, but in Budapest he secured the mark to go to Paris 2024, his second Olympic Games, while Luis Henry Campos was only 46 seconds away, that is, he is close to reaching it, while who improved his ranking, the other way to reach the Olympic Games.

—And the program?—

In the history of the World Athletics Championships, we have only reached the top ten on eight occasions, and it must be said that seven of them are thanks to athletic walking –David Torrence in the 5,000 meters is the other– Given that, Daisy Zereceda launches the challenge. “The march deserves a program, it has more than earned it,” she tells us.

Having a program for the discipline would make it possible to unify criteria and focus on the growth of athletes, as is done with the marathon. Daisy herself tells us what happened in Spain. “María Pérez was disqualified in Tokyo, in Oregon. But they saw that she had talent. So, instead of taking her away from her, they implemented a system to change her technique, they worked with technology and biomechanics with a university and now the girl won both golds. In Peru I was able to do that”, the ex-athlete tells us.

In Peru there is still no program, despite the fact that its launch was announced in 2021 at CAR Junín, even with the presence of several athletes such as Kimberly and César. However, it has not been possible to implement it, as confirmed by a couple of athletes.

According to what Deporte Total learned, carrying out this plan depended on a budget from the Peruvian Institute of Sport (IPD), and unfortunately it has not been possible to execute it. “Even the marathon plan is not fully open,” a leader from Huancayo tells us. We are looking for the version from the Athletics Federation, but we have not received an answer yet.

As long as the growth of the athletes is not thought of, it will not be possible to advance and everything that happens will come from the same individual efforts. Let’s hope that soon they can materialize the projects for the benefit of the national sport. Peru is on the move and the world already knows it.

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