
Bueno Wins Bronze Medal at Junior Pan Am Games
8/22/2025 7:25:00 PM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty's Paola Bueno added to her impressive hardware collection on Friday, earning a bronze medal for Mexico in the Junior Pan American Games women's hammer competition. The event in Asuncion, Paraguay capped off the two-time All-American's strong junior season.
A native of Nayarit, Mexico, Bueno saved her best mark for last on Friday. A 202-10 heave in round six stood up for third place in the competition, representing a four-spot improvement upon Bueno's effort at the most recent Junior Pan Am Games in 2021.
Bueno's previous women's hammer competitions this summer included a victory at the Mexican U23 Championships with a meet-record 208-1 heave and a runner-up finish at the Mexican Championships (200-1).
During the 2025 collegiate campaign, Bueno placed 16th in the women's hammer at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships (212-6). That performance made her the Lady Flames' first thrower ever to earn multiple All-America honors during her career.
Two weeks earlier, Bueno had pushed the women's hammer program record to 215-7 at the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet. The mark ranks No. 2 in Mexican history.
First-year Lady Flame Sophie Gonzalez also competed in the women's hammer, Friday in Asuncion. She came in 10th with a top performance of 183-9.
A transfer from Wake Forest, Gonzalez set the Guatemalan women's hammer record at 204-4 earlier this summer. She also captured the 2025 Central American women's hammer title with a meet-record 194-8.
A native of Nayarit, Mexico, Bueno saved her best mark for last on Friday. A 202-10 heave in round six stood up for third place in the competition, representing a four-spot improvement upon Bueno's effort at the most recent Junior Pan Am Games in 2021.
Bueno's previous women's hammer competitions this summer included a victory at the Mexican U23 Championships with a meet-record 208-1 heave and a runner-up finish at the Mexican Championships (200-1).
During the 2025 collegiate campaign, Bueno placed 16th in the women's hammer at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships (212-6). That performance made her the Lady Flames' first thrower ever to earn multiple All-America honors during her career.
Two weeks earlier, Bueno had pushed the women's hammer program record to 215-7 at the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet. The mark ranks No. 2 in Mexican history.
First-year Lady Flame Sophie Gonzalez also competed in the women's hammer, Friday in Asuncion. She came in 10th with a top performance of 183-9.
A transfer from Wake Forest, Gonzalez set the Guatemalan women's hammer record at 204-4 earlier this summer. She also captured the 2025 Central American women's hammer title with a meet-record 194-8.
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