Athlete of the Week: Alejandra VALENCIA (MEX)

Athlete of the Week: Alejandra VALENCIA (MEX) Lausanne – 20 October 2011  At the Istanbul 2011 World Cup Final    The Mexican archer Alejandra VALENCIA, who just turned 17 years old on the first competition day at the Pan American Games on Monday, shot an impressive qualifying score of 1363 points. This is the highest mark ever achieved by a woman from the Americas, edging by two points the previous top score by Denise PARKER (USA) at the Antalya 1993 World Championships.   On her way to breaking the 144-arrow FITA Round Pan American Games record, VALENCIA also set the 50 metres record for the Games at 338. The young Mexican topped the qualification ranking, two points ahead of Miranda LEEK (USA). The scores of 1363 and 1361, respectively, place VALENCIA and LEEK in the elite group of eight non-Korean women who have shot 1360 or higher at World Championships or World Ranking Events.   In Guadalajara this week, VALENCIA, together with teammate Aida ROMAN, Leidys BRITO (VEN) and LEEK, went on winning the 1/16 and 1/8 elimination matches as well as the quarterfinals. The four will play the semifinals of the women's individual event on Saturday, 22 October.   VALENCIA won her first medal on the World Cup circuit in Ogden this year. In August, she successfully secured the bronze in the women's individual recurve competition. She said: "I cannot believe it! To win a medal here on the World Cup circuit still being a junior archer [she is still cadet and will turn junior in 2012] is so wonderful, it is hard for me to realise what has just happened!"   Thanks to 3rd place in Ogden followed by 8th in Shanghai, the Mexican clinched her qualifying ticket for the World Cup Final. In Istanbul at the end of September she ended her World Cup season with a 5th place finish. With such very good results VALENCIA has reached her best World Ranking so far, 12th in September.   Biography Extract:   Alejandra VALENCIA (MEX) – Born 17 October 1994 5th Individual World Cup Final Istanbul 2011 8th Individual World Cup Stage Shanghai 2011 3rd Team World Cup Stage Shanghai 2011 6th Mixed Team World Cup Stage Shanghai 2011 3rd Individual Cadet World Championships Legnica 2011 9th Team Cadet World Championships Legnica 2011 5th Mixed Team Cadet World Championships Legnica 2011 3rd Individual World Cup Stage Ogden 2011 5th Team World Cup Stage Ogden 2011 7th Mixed Team World Cup Stage Ogden 2011 33rd Individual World Championships Turin 2011 9th Team World Championships Turin 2011 1st Individual Pan American Championships Guadalajara 2010 1st Team Pan American Championships Guadalajara 2010 9th Individual Central American and Caribbean Games Mayaguez 2010 2nd Team Central American and Caribbean Games Mayaguez 2010 2nd Individual Arizona Cup Phoenix 2010 10th Individual Cadet World Championships Ogden 2009 7th Team Cadet World Championships Ogden 2009 Find more information on Alejandra VALENCIA (and all other archers) at the World Archery website and on her Facebook page.   World Archery Communication
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