Costa Rican athlete Amalia Ortuño has kicked off her international season in spectacular fashion, securing a silver medal and setting a new national record in the shot put event during the Grand Prix of Para Athletics in Rabat, Morocco. Ortuño's remarkable achievement came from an impressive throw of 6.74 meters, which not only earned her a place on the podium but also surpassed her previous personal best of 6.59 meters, established at the recent Paranational Games held in Limón in January.
The gold medal was claimed by Miroslava Adamkova from the Czech Republic with a throw of 7.00 meters, while the bronze went to Adina Samyikek from Kyrgyzstan, who achieved a distance of 5.41 meters. For Ortuño, this accomplishment is particularly noteworthy considering she faced a hand injury prior to the tournament that almost prevented her from competing. Nevertheless, her determination and resilience allowed her to recover and participate in Morocco.
"I am truly happy; this year has been incredibly challenging in terms of medical and physical treatments. Just being here is a significant achievement for me. I am leaving with a silver medal and an excellent performance that improved my personal record," stated the athlete from Turrialba, who competes in the F56 category.
Looking ahead, Ortuño has more goals to achieve during this event. She is set to compete in the javelin throw on Friday and the discus throw on Saturday. The Grand Prix in Rabat serves as a valuable opportunity for Ortuño to maintain her competitive form in anticipation of the Central American and Caribbean Para Games, where she aims to enhance her personal records as she seeks qualification for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Furthermore, Ortuño is also targeting the qualifying mark for the World Para Athletics Championships scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan in June 2027.
As reported by crhoy.com.
