Mexican archer and four-time Olympian Alejandra Valencia put in a vintage performance to top qualification at the Tlaxcala 2026 Pan American Championships, shooting 666 to lead the women’s field by two points ahead of the USA’s Jennifer Mucino.
Valencia is by far the most decorated archer in Pan American competition, having won this tournament twice, in Guadalajara in 2010 and in Medellin in 2018 along with eight other team and individual medals. She is also a three-time Pan American Games champion, and next year will try to defend her title won at XIX Juegos Panamericanos Santiago 2023.
Now one of the most senior veterans in the field – she made her international debut in 2010 – she shrugged off questions about retirement after winning her second Olympic bronze at Paris 2024, and now finds herself ranked 5th in the world and still performing at the very top of her game.
The recurve men’s list was topped by her Mexican compatriot and defending Pan Am champion Matias Grande, who led on X-count after tying with Brazil’s Marcus D’Almeida on 683, with both two points ahead of Brady Elliso in third.
Colombia’s Alejandra Usquiano – named as one of our ‘five to watch‘ before the tournament – topped the compound women’s field with 710, just ahead of Andrea Becerra and Sara Lopez. Her score broke the existing championships record by four points.
The men’s compound field is also led by a Colombian, Pablo Gomez Zuluaga, the bronze medallist at the last edition and a silver medallist at this year’s San Salvador 2026 Grand Prix of the Americas.
The barebow lists were topped by Michael Weaver and Ava Jones, both of the USA. The men’s competition features athletes from the USA, Argentina and Uruguay, while the women’s competition is an all-American affair.
Competition continues with mixed team eliminations and the individual Pan Am Games qualifier on Thursday.
