Central American and Caribbean Games: Leydi Laura Moya holds off Mexican trio

The first day of competition in the Central American and Caribbean Games started with the women’s modern pentathlon event. The winner of the first gold medal in modern pentathlon was Leydi Laura Moya of Cuba with 1314 points. She was able to hold off three Mexican athletes by posting the fastest combined event with a time of 13.10, based on nearly perfect shooting series. Tamara Vega of Mexico came from fifth place and with a time of 13.16 in the combined event she climbed up all the way into the silver medal position. Thelma Martinez also of Mexico, who began the combined event in first place, held on for the bronze medal. Elena Nogueda of Mexico was fourth followed by Sophia Hernández and Isabel Brand of Guatemala who were fifth and sixth respectively.

Mexico captured the first three places in the fencing event, which was won by Thelma Martinez with 16 victories and 259 points. Tamara Vega and Elena Nogueda who were one touch behind with 250 points followed her. In the swimming event Leydi Laura Moya was first with a time of 2.17.42, Thelma Martinez was second with 2.19.91 and Tamara Vega was third with 2.20.28. Ximena Dieguez of Guatemala won the ride with a perfect 300 points, followed by Elena Nogueda and Leydi Laura Moya both with 293 points.

The Central American and Caribbean Games are the oldest regional games in the world and have been held since 1926. This is the 22nd edition and they are taking place in Xalapa, which is in the State of Veracruz in Mexico. There are seven nations taking part in the modern pentathlon event: Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panama, Venezuela and Mexico.

[gallery link="file" ids="2951,2949,2950,2948,2953"]