Alongside the Americas Cup, the South American Junior Championships took place in Lima.
Dominga Elena Jacome Espinoza of Chile took the win in comprehensive fashion in the women’s race. Born in 2005, Jacome won by 49 seconds after cruising away from her rivals on the run.
After leading the way in the water, Jacome led as part of a select pack of five on the bike. It was on the run that she really impressed as no one had an answer for her speed.
She was the bronze medallist at last year’s edition of the championships. Last year’s winner Julia Munhoz was disqualified this time out in Lima.
In 2021, Jacome finished 37th at her first World Junior Championships appearance in Montreal. She will still be eligible for the Junior ranks next year however she has already been making a name for herself at the Senior level.
Earlier this year, she finished 4th at the Americas Cup in Villarrica. Jacome was actually the bronze medallist at the South American Championships over the Olympic distance (the silver medallist in Villarrica, Ivana Kuriackova, is Slovakian).
In addition, she finished 11th at the Americas Cup in Pucón and recently logged a 6th place at the Americas Cup in Salinas. At the latter, she recorded the second best run in the field in a time of 17:24, only 4 seconds behind Elizabeth Bravo.
Generally Jacome’s swim has put her among the main pack and she has not quite been at the front of races. That makes sense though given her age. Meanwhile her cycling has been remarkably strong.
After her string a stellar performances this season, she has shown plenty of promise ahead of the World Junior Championships in Hamburg.
The runner-up in Lima was Amanda Moro of Brazil. Moro is the reigning Brazilian Junior champion and had the best bike split of the field in Lima. She was with Jacome for most of the race but did not manage to match her on the run.
Maria De Los Angeles Bonilla Garcia of Ecuador won the bronze medal.
In the men’s race, Andree Buc took the win after stamping his authority on the run.
Buc was the second man out of the water, only 1 second behind Caua Diaz of Brazil. Only three other men were able to maintain contact with Diaz and Buc and a small group of five pulled ahead on the bike. The lead quintet worked well together, gaining over a minute on the chasers.
None of them, though, could live with Buc’s speed on the run as he powered to victory by 28 seconds.
Like Jacome, Buc had already signalled his potential at Senior races this year. He finished 6th at the Americas Cup in Pucón and raced at the Americas Cup in Villarrica.
At the end of 2022, he also finished 9th at the Americas Cup in Viña del Mar.
Last season, Buc finished 21st at the World Junior Championships in Montreal while also adding a silver medal at the European Junior Cup in Tiszaujvaros.
This season, his running has been a point of strength. At times his swim has not quite been as strong but that was primarily a result of racing men up to a decade older than him. In the Junior ranks, his swim has been much more competitive and will likely develop over the coming years.
As with Jacome, he will no doubt hope to translate his encouraging Senior performances into success at the World Junior Championships.
For now, though, Buc can celebrate the first international win of his career.
Buc’s compatriot Andres Gras won the silver medal in Lima while David Vega Campoverde of Ecuador won bronze.
View the full results here.
