World speed skating championship began with records

ODYTA Summary

Colombia began its participation in the World Speed Skating Championship at the World Skate Games Asunción 2026 with strong performances. On the first day, all 16 Colombian skaters who competed qualified for finals. Santiago Vásquez Villarreal set a world record in the 200 meters Meta Contra Meta with a time of 17.108 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 17.231 set by his compatriot Steven Villegas at the Ibagué 2021 World Championship. Jhon Edwar Tascón Holguín also qualified for the final with 17.275 seconds. In the senior women's category, three skaters beat the previous world record of 18.531 seconds set by Colombia's Geiny Pájaro at Ibagué 2021. El Salvador's Ivonne Nochez Gallardo set a new world record with 18.389 seconds. Colombia's Kollin Andrea Castro Mosquera recorded 18.394 seconds, and Geiny Carmela Pájaro Guzmán, the previous record holder, also surpassed her own mark with 18.420 seconds. Both Colombians advanced to the final. In the junior category, all four Colombian representatives qualified for the 200 meters Meta Contra Meta finals: Gisell Alejandra Caicedo Arango (18.792) and Mariana Ambuila Reinoso (19.142) in women's. In the 5,000 meters Points event, all eight Colombian skaters who started also qualified for finals: Gabriela Isabel Rueda Rueda and Yicel Camila Giraldo Vásquez (senior women), Juan Jacobo Mantilla Pinilla and Kevin Alejandro Lenis Angarita (senior men), Manuela Rodríguez Torres and Mariana Imitola Vásquez (junior women), and Jerónimo Sánchez Echavarría and Juan Manuel Chaux Valencia (junior men).