Xiomara Saldarriaga broke the world record for discus throw in the F38 category at the 21st L'Hospitalet de Llobregat International Parathletics Meeting with a mark of 39.54 meters. The Colombian athlete achieved the most outstanding record of an event that brought together international competitors on the city's tracks.
The meeting also left another relevant mark for local athletics. While the Colombian delegation achieved the best result of the day, L'Hospitalet Atletisme athlete Maria Zamora set the Spanish U23 record in F13 discus with 24.92 meters in the same competition.
Xiomara Saldarriaga broke the F38 world record with 39.54 meters
Saldarriaga was aiming for this mark and achieved it in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. The Colombian athlete explained after the event that she had competed with this objective from the beginning.
"I was looking for it, I had my sights set on the record and I achieved it" - Xiomara Saldarriaga, Colombian athlete
After surpassing the record, Saldarriaga set her next goal at a round figure. The thrower now aims for 40 meters, a barrier she considers close after the record achieved at the meeting.
"And my dream is to reach 40 meters. We are very close, so I have to keep working to achieve that mark someday" - Xiomara Saldarriaga, Colombian athlete
The 21st edition of the meeting registered a notable presence of South American athletes, with particular weight from the delegations of Chile and Colombia. This international participation marked a significant part of the atmosphere of the day in the competition organized in L'Hospitalet.
Maria Zamora set the Spanish U23 record in F13 discus
Along with Saldarriaga's world record, the competition yielded another result of national significance. Maria Zamora, an athlete from L'Hospitalet Atletisme, reached 24.92 meters in the F13 discus throw and set a new Spanish U23 record.
"A week ago I was throwing 20 meters and today I've thrown many more; it's crazy to gain so many meters in a few days" - Maria Zamora, athlete from L'Hospitalet Atletisme
Desiré Vila, a Galician athlete, also participated in the meeting, competing in the long jump event. Vila valued the L'Hospitalet event as an opportunity to measure herself against her direct rivals in a competition that usually concentrates them.
"The starting test always brings my rivals together and, on a personal level, it goes very well for me because I can see how they are. Besides, the temperature is very good and they treat us great" - Desiré Vila, Galician athlete
From the Chilean delegation, David Pérez Mena highlighted the welcome received in their first collective participation in the meeting. The athlete explained that the group competed in an environment they already perceive as familiar.
"We are very happy to be here, it already feels like home. It's the first time we've come as a delegation and everyone is treating us very well" - David Pérez Mena, athlete from the Chilean delegation
Josep Maria Piqueras, president of L'Hospitalet Atletisme, was present at the event, focusing on the prior preparation of the event and the arrival of participants from different countries to the city.
Piqueras recalled that the organization of the meeting began in November and summarized the day with a specific idea about the previous work. "Today is the icing on the cake. We have been working on it since November", stated the president of L'Hospitalet Atletisme.