USA TRI Paratriathletes Win 8 Gold Medals at Americas Para Championships Antofagasta
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by USA Triathlon
ANTOFAGASTA, Chile — USA TRI Elite paratriathletes won eight gold medals at the Americas Para Championships Antofagasta on Sunday, July 5, part of the same weekend of continental racing that crowned the 2026 Americas Triathlon Championships.
Paratriathlon at Antofagasta featured six classifications for men and six for women: PTWC (wheelchair), PTS2, PTS3, PTS4, PTS5 (standing classifications for varying levels of impairment) and PTVI (visually impaired, racing with a guide).
Women's Racing
McClain Hermes, racing PTVI with guide Jenna Haufler, was the closest thing Team USA had to a sure bet after wins earlier this season in Samarkand and Yokohama, and she delivered again in Antofagasta (1:08:49) to build on a recent bronze at the World Para Series Montreal on June 27.
USA TRI also got breakthrough wins from Virginia Ogburn in PTS5 (1:13:19) and Sydney Peterson in PTS2 (1:20:13). The win came in just Ogburn's ninth elite start, while it marked Peterson's first-ever international appearance — and she made it count, winning by a commanding 18 minutes. Peterson is a multiple Paralympic medal winner in Para Nordic skiing. Both results are encouraging signs at this early stage of their roads to the LA28 Paralympic Games.
Mexico's Brenda Osnaya Alvarez (PTWC), Kenia Yesenia Villalobos Vargas (PTS3) and Ana Lucia Vicente Garcia (PTS4) claimed the other three women's titles.
Men's Racing
USA TRI dominated the men's classifications, winning five of six titles. Howie Sanborn won PTWC in 1:05:37, Kyle Stepp took PTS2 in 1:14:36, Zachary Osborne won PTS3 in 1:10:45, Paris 2024 Paralympic silver medalist Carson Clough claimed PTS4 in 1:07:09, and Owen Cravens topped PTVI in 1:01:46.
Brazil's Ruiter Antonio Goncalves Silva was the lone non-U.S. men's champion, winning PTS5 in 1:02:32 ahead of USA TRI's Jesus Moreno, who finished second (1:08:57).
Philanthropy Supports USA TRI Paratriathlon Athletes
With the Paralympic Games returning to U.S. soil in 2028 — and paratriathlon continuing to grow as one of the most competitive disciplines on the Paralympic program — fans can help fuel the journeys of USA TRI paratriathletes through Elevate28, the USA Triathlon Foundation's most ambitious campaign to date.
Because USA Triathlon receives no direct government funding, philanthropy powers the world-class coaching, training environments, sport science and international competition experience U.S. paratriathletes rely on to compete and win on home soil. To join the movement, visit usatriathlon.org/foundation/elevate28.
Americas Para Championships Antofagasta
750m swim, 21.6k bike, 5k run
PTWC Women
1. Brenda Osnaya Alvarez (MEX), 1:13:50
2. Skyler Fisher (USA) 1:14:34
3. No finisher
PTS2 Women
1. Sydney Peterson (USA),1:20:13
2. Amanda Antunes de Paiva (BRA), 1:38:45
3. No finisher
PTS3 Women
1. Kenia Yesenia Villalobos Vargas (MEX), 1:09:36
2. Kassandra Case (USA), 1:12:57
3. Rachel Watts (USA), 1:41:27
PTS4 Women
1. Ana Lucia Vicente Garcia (MEX), 1:23:56
2. Emma Meyers (USA),1:25:14
3. Rafaela Rojas (CHI), 1:34:42
PTS5 Women
1. Virginia Ogburn (USA),1:13:19
2. Michelle Dynes (USA), 1:21:41
3. Marjim Gabriela Soto Ramos (BOL), 1:24:32
PTVI Women
1. McClain Hermes (USA), 1:08:49 (Guide: Jenna Haufler)
2. Leticia Freitas B1 (BRA), 1:11:11
3. Margot Wehrle B1 (CAN), 1:18:34 (Guide: Elani Bykowski)
PTWC Men
1. Howie Sanborn, (USA), 1:05:37
2. Fernando Aranha H2 (BRA), 1:10:01
3. Justin Pines (USA),1:11:22
U.S. Finishers
6. Owen Horsley (USA),1:14:44
PTS2 Men
1. Kyle Stepp (USA),1:14:36
2. Diego Alfonso Lares García (MEX), 1:31:25
3. Joao Pedro Araujo dos Santos Padeti (BRA), 1:46:49
PTS3 Men
1. Zachary Osborne (USA),1:10:45
2. Lucas Jundt (USA), 1:14:06
3. Jonas Souza (BRA), 1:20:47
PTS4 Men
1. Carson Clough (USA), 1:07:09
2. Jorge Luis Fonseca (BRA), 1:08:19
3. Shane Harvey (USA), 1:13:55
U.S. Finishers
4. Eric McElvenny (USA), 1:16:37
PTS5 Men
1. Ruiter Antonio Goncalves Silva (BRA), 1:02:32
2. Jesus Moreno (USA), 1:08:57
3. Jeremías Federico Gallardo (ARG), 1:12:34
PTVI Men
1. Owen Cravens (USA), 1:01:46
2. Yunerki Ortega Ponce B1 (CHI), 1:07:45
3. Heli de Jesús Casillas Alcalá B1 (MEX), 1:09:24 (Guide: Jorge Luis Fuentes)
U.S. Finishers
5. Christian Chavez (USA),1:15:02
About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 3,500 events and races and connects with and supports more than 300,000 unique active members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of World Triathlon and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
