Tejeda wins Peru’s first gold four years after losing title for doping offence – Insidethegames.biz

Tejeda delivered one half of Peru’s double gold medal success in the marathon events on the opening day of the Games, with Christian Pacheco triumphing in the men’s race at Kennedy Park in Miraflores.

Both distance runners produced Games record times and received their gold medals from Peru’s President Martín Vizcarra, who was accompanied by Panam Sports counterpart Neven Ilic.

Tejeda had the honour of claiming the hosts’ first title of the Games, which led to locals billing the achievement as either a run of redemption or revenge.

The 33-year-old had won the women’s marathon four years ago in Toronto, but later became one of 21 athletes embroiled in doping cases.

She was stripped of her title after testing positive for the banned diuretic furosemide, which ultimately led to a six-month ban.

Tejeda had claimed the positive had been inadvertent, with the diuretic claimed to have been used to treat a kidney problem.

The Peruvian would return to the top of the podium here, after producing a dominant performance on the streets of Lima.

Backed by strong home support, Tejeda broke clear of her rivals and established a comfortable lead heading into the latter stages.

She eventually completed the race in a Games record of 2 hours, 30 min and 55 sec.

“In Toronto I lost my medal for negligence,” Tejeda said.

“It’s all I dreamed for four years.

“This is very exciting for me because it is the first time that I win in front of all the Peruvian people. “

“There were many people who supported me today and made a lot of noise.

“They are the main reason why I could win.”

United States’ Bethany Sachtleben secured the silver medal, as she ended 25 seconds down on the winner in 2:31:20.

The podium was completed by Colombia’s Angie Orjuele Soche, who clocked 2:32:27.

Pacheco matched Tejeda’s victory by winning the men’s event, having broken clear of his Mexican rivals in the closing stages.

He celebrated in exuberant fashion at the finish by clutching the Peruvian flag in the final metres of the race, before crossing the line in 2:10:41.

His effort surpassed the previous Pan American Games record of 2:12:43, which was set by Puerto Rico’s Jorge Gonzales at Caracas 1983.

An emotional Pacheco was followed by Mexico’s Jose Santana, the silver medallist in 2:10:54.

Santana’s compatriot Juan Pacheco produced a time of 2:12:10 to complete the podium positions.