Padrino and Gómez broke national record during the World Championship in Torún, Poland

Published at: 20/03/2026 09:52 PM

Sprinters Kelvis Padrino and Javier Gómez broke the national 400-meter mark twice during the first day of competition at the indoor World Championship held in Torún, Poland.

The conquest of the Criollos is even more important because it is the first time that the country has participated in this 400 m sport in a universal indoor athletics competition.

The wall fell

The 400 meters flat shone on the morning of the World Cup because they offer the two strongest performances by runners in the history of national indoor athletics.

The Aragüeño, Javier Gómez, was the first to jump onto the indoor track of the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena Toruń, and became the first to tear down the 47-second wall for the 400 meters,

Gómez set the national record in the fifth series of round 1 with a time of 46.96 seconds, breaking at first the 18-year-old record set by the Olympic player in Beijing 2008, José Acevedo, of 47.08.

“There was no previous definition of the race designed with my coach Yaseen Pérez, it was just a matter of going out to set a pace and enjoy. This race leaves me physically marked because I know where we are and where we are going this year. It's a good start for everything to come,” Javier Gómez reflected on his participation.

New brand

Gómez's record lasted only a few minutes. In the next round, the consistent runner Kelvis Padrino, led by Olympic coach César Martínez, demonstrated his excellent form on tartan by lowering the clock to 46.70 to overcome what his teammate achieved.

“I needed to face the race with a little more confidence, I think I could do better, but these are lessons learned. I am happy to be among the best in the world, it means that I am also an elite member, which makes me understand that we are on a very good path for this season,” reflected Padrino, current South American champion.

Despite the fact that the 46.70 mark did not allow him to advance to the semifinal phase of the race, the 29-year-old sprinter, a native of Pariaguán, Anzoátegui state, achieved the goal of setting the second national record in his record, in addition to the one already registered under his name at this same distance, but in open air conditions.

“It was one of the objectives we were looking for in addition to winning the semifinal, the latter we didn't achieve, but I have mastery of 400 meters outdoors (45.05) and indoor (46.70), it gives me great happiness that my history in athletics continues to spread little by little,” concluded the Venezuelan record holder.

Dream relay

The duo of Padrino and Gómez will have a new challenge in the joust of the world when they face the qualifiers of the 4×400 meter relay together with fellow Venezuelan players Ryan López and Axel Gómez and where the main objective will be to become world finalists.

“We dream of that final. I fully trust my relief team, we are sure that we will give everything for everything and we will take home the national record,” said Padrino.

The appointment for the quartet will be next Sunday at 5:48 in the morning, Venezuelan time.

For his part, sprinter Bryant Alamo also made his world debut in the 60-meter qualifying rounds, where he finished fifth with a record of 6.70, which prevented him from advancing to the semifinal stage. However, its performance allows for its projection and notable growth in view of upcoming international events.

For the fourth

Based on this year's results, in the triple jump of the World Championship, Yulimar Rojas has the credentials to win his fourth crown, but to do so he must ratify or exceed the 14.95 mark he registered in February at the Iberdrola Cup in Valencia, Spain.

Yulimar will have as rivals the Cuban Leyanis Pérez with the best record of the 14.75 season and Thea Lafon, from Dominica, with 14.62.

The women's triple test is scheduled for this Saturday, March 21 at 2:38 in the afternoon, horta de Venezuela.

Mazo News Team