Roberto Hernandez wins El Salvador’s 2nd gold medal of Barranquilla 2018

Photos courtesy Barranquilla 2018/AFP.

Roberto Hernandez beat the host nation’s Camilo Cardona to compound men’s gold at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia – winning El Salvador its second gold medal of the Games.

“[This gold medal] means a lot. It is a very important event for my country and it’s the second gold medal we win [in Barranquilla], so I’m feeling super happy and proud to have been able to win it for my country,” said Roberto.

Seeded first with 702 out of a possible 720 points over the 72-arrow 50-metre ranking round, the world number 20 opened his match against Cardona with a perfect 30 points to take the lead and never let it out of his grasp.

Roberto won the match by one point, 143-142.

“Four years ago [at this event], I lost the gold in a shoot-off, so being able to get it off my back with my parents on the stand watching me compete was incredible,” he added.

Mexico’s Antonio Hidalgo took bronze after beating Colombia’s Daniel Munoz by four points, 148-144.

World number one Sara Lopez beat Mexico’s Andrea Becerra, 148 to 146 points, to the compound women’s individual title. Linda Ochoa-Anderson took bronze over Alejandra Usquiano, 146-144.

Lopez thanked her coach, teammates and family for all the support throughout week and dedicated the title to her grandmother, who recently passed away.

Mexico swept the recurve women’s podium as Alejandra Valencia, Ana Paula Vazquez and Aida Roman took gold, silver and bronze, respectively.

Their teammate Luis Alvarez defended his 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games title by defeating Colombia’s Daniel Betancur in five sets, 6-4.

“I'm very emotional because I haven't had good results during the past three years,” said Alvarez. “This is a good start of the [Olympic] cycle and a huge motivation to keep going.”

Colombia’s Andres Pila took bronze.

In the recurve mixed team event, Mexico won gold, Cuba silver and Colombia bronze. The compound mixed team podium saw Guatemala on the top step, followed by Puerto Rico and Mexico.

The 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games took place in Barranquilla, Colombia on 29 July to 3 August.