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