Published on Monday, October 28, 2024

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff




The Tica athlete (a term used for a native of Costa Rica) Noelia Vargas-Mena of Puriscal Canton, San José, won gold at the 2024 Lusatian World Athletics Race Walking Tour on Sunday in Zittau, Germany.

According to the Sports Institute, Vargas finished the 20-kilometer walking race in a timing of 1:34:32, winning the gold medal. She competed against Hungarian Barbara Oláh, who finished second with a time of 1:36:50. Lena Sonntag from Germany finished third with a time of 1:37:31.

"I'm very happy to win a gold medal for Costa Rica," Vargas commented minutes after the medal ceremony.

This victory moves Noelia up 60 points in the world rankings, putting her closer to qualifying for the 2025 Athletics World Cup, which will be hosted in Tokyo.

Vargas joins an elite group of Ticos athletes who have won international competitions. In September, Sherman Güity won two gold medals in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

The Sports Institute (ICODER) is the state organization responsible for promoting, supporting, and encouraging individual and group sports.

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