Peruvian sprinter Cayetana Chirinos won the 100m at the Spanish U18 Championships with an impressive display of speed that amazed everyone present at the Ciudad de Malaga Stadium in Malaga, Spain, on 6 July.
The national sprinter, who competes in Royal Spanish Athletics Federation events due to her dual nationality, ran a wind-assisted 11.69 (3.3m/s), the best performance of her short but successful athletics career.
The time run by Chirinos is officially recognised but does not count as a national U18 record because the race was run with a tailwind higher than the maximum allowed in this discipline.
Chirinos, who represents the Meliz Sport Athletic Club, ran with authority to beat the best Spanish sprinters in the race, such as Elene Arrazola (11.82) and Nagore Gabarain (11.84) who completed the podium. The competition was of a very high level, as seven of the eight finalists ran under 12 seconds.
The performance by Chirinos was strong from the start of the championships. In the heats, 16-year-old ‘Caye’ clocked 11.95 (2.5m/s), while in the semifinals she stopped the clock at 11.79 (2.3m/s), equalling her own national U18 record. Then, in the final, she once again showcased her potential.
This is the second time that Chirinos has been crowned the best athlete in her category in the 100m in Spain. Two years ago, at the Spanish U16 Championships, the Peruvian won the gold medal in the 100m in 12.02. She was 14 years old at the time.
On the road to the World U20 Championships
Undoubtedly, the national sprinter continues to grow and will arrive in great shape for the South American U20 Championships, to be held at the Videna Athletic Stadium from 12-14 July, and also for the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24, which will take place from 27-31 August at the same venue.
The athletics achievements of the Peruvian, the U18 Ibero-American champion in 2023 and a medallist at the 2024 Bolivarian Youth Games, is truly impressive. At just 16 years old, she is very close to the senior national record in the women’s 100m (11.74), but above all, she is committed to a sport to which she is dedicating all her effort and dedication.
