Ana G. Méndez University sweeps the LAI Games
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 21 hours ago
- 3 min read
By The Star Staff
The Taínos and Taínas of Ana G. Méndez University (UAGM by its initials in Spanish) won their respective divisions in the Inter-University Athletic League (LAI) Games, commonly known as Las Justas, and combined to win the school’s second-straight Luis F. Sambolín Global Cup on Saturday night in Mayagüez.
“First of all, I have to thank God and all the competitors who participated today. Especially Interamericana [University],” said Edgar Díaz, the UAGM athletic director since 2018-2019. “All the universities that were present and for all their sacrifice.”
UAGM won the men’s division with 248 points, with runner-up Inter-American University (UIPR) finishing with 220.50 points.
In the women’s division, the same two universities tied with 245 points each. The title was awarded to UAGM for winning nine gold medals to UIPR’s seven.
“We worked very hard to achieve this,” Díaz added. “I thank God, my staff, everyone, and the coaches who make all this possible, who work day in and day out with our athletes. I believe that was the secret. Work hard, work hard. I feel very happy, very joyful to give this victory to Ana G. Méndez.”
The Tarzanes of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR)-Mayagüez in the men’s division and the Jerezanas of UPR-Río Piedras on the women’s side won bronze with 136.50 and 111 points, respectively.
In the overall competition, UAGM again captured the Luis F. Sambolín Global Cup with 2,985 points. UPR-Mayagüez finished second with 2,780 points, and UIPR took third with 2,735 points.
UAGM’s Sebastián Quiñones set a new LAI record in the 10,000-meter walk last Thursday with a time of 46 minutes, 04.09 seconds. Quiñones’ 2024 time was 46:45.48.
UIPR’s Héctor Pagán set a new LAI record in the 10,000 meters, 29:27.72. The Barranquitas native broke the 29:43.70 mark set in 1982 by Héctor “Papo” Díaz.
UPR-Río Piedras international student-athlete Sharon Herrera broke the women’s 10,000-meter walk record with a time of 47:20.68. The previous record, 48:10.39, was set by fellow Jerezana Rachelle de Orbeta.
Two universities now hold records in a track and field event, but only one was the winner, as the Taínos and Taínas of UAGM and the Gryphons and Gryphos of Caribbean University lowered their times in the mixed 4x400-meter relay.
UAGM set a record with a time of 3:28.03, with members Jarell Cruz, Xioneisha Vega, Jorge Maysonet and Génesis Castro.
Pablo Collazo, Edmary Alma, Wilfrido Rivera and Yereika Cruz of Caribbean University recorded the second-best time, 3:28.58, also besting the previous record.
The UAGM Taínas, Adanelys Rodríguez, Glaymar Torres, Natalie Pagán and Andrea Rivera, set the 4x100m record meanwhile with a time of 44.19 seconds. The previous record of 44.45 seconds was set by Eliesit Palacios, Catherine Ibarguen, Yolanda Osana and Yolanda Hinestroza of Metropolitan University in 2011.
In the women’s 100 meters, two athletes broke the record of 11.51 seconds set by Amparo Caicedo of the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in 1988.
UIPR’s Francés Colón set the new record of 11.38 seconds, while Gladymar Torres finished second in 11.42.
In the men’s 200 meters, José Figueroa of UAGM added another gold medal and tied the LAI record of 20.49 seconds set in 2010 by Daniel Grueso of Metropolitan University.
In the women’s 4x400 meters, Andrea Rivera, Adanelys Rodríguez, Frace Otero and Géneris Collazo stopped the clock at 3:39.87. The previous record was 3:40.30, set by UIPR in 2012.
The most valuable athletes were UIPR’s Pagán and UAGM’s Angie Palacio.
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