Eleven federations have confirmed their participation in the Pan-American Walking Championship, which will take place on May 7 in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and, of course, the host Ecuador, have so far made official their willingness to participate before the technical direction of the event.
It is the second time that a continental athletic race walking championship has touched Ecuadorian soil, after Cuenca organized it in 2001. This time it will be competed in the Samanes Park of the coastal city, and there will be a great tribute to Luis Chocho, father and coach of the walker Andrés Chocho and mentor of the Olympic champion Jefferson Pérez. Luis Chocho died last February at the age of 64, a victim of COVID-19.
The Pan-American Championship will take place on a course certified by Xavier Mantilla, and approved by the technical delegate of the Pan-American Athletics Association (APA), Cándido Vélez and therefore the standard entry for the Olympic Games will be valid.
Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia will be the countries with the largest delegations, with 27, 25 and 21 athletes respectively. In addition, two Brazilian athletes asked to participate individually and not as part of their country's delegation.
The competition program foresees to start the 50km at 6 am, five minutes later to start the new 35 km test, start the men's 20 km at 7 am and the same distance for the women at 8:45 am, closing with the 10 km for men at 10:30 and for women at 11:30.