Ronald Mencía from Sancti Spíritus wins gold at the Central American Games.

Ronald Mencía, a native of Sancti Spíritus, won the gold medal in the hammer throw at the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games this Wednesday, recording a distance of 74.55 meters on his fourth attempt.

In a high-level regional competition held at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, the silver medal went to Puerto Rico’s Jerome Vega, who threw 73.88 meters and engaged in a fierce, high-stakes battle right up to the final outcome.

The bronze went to Mexico’s Diego del Real with a throw of 73.00 meters, in a final that showcased a blend of experience, technical skill, and regional elite status.

Mencía—a World Championship competitor and silver medalist at the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción—reaffirmed his standing as a leading figure in Cuban hammer throwing, building on a track record that included a fourth-place finish at San Salvador 2023 and appearances on the sport’s most demanding stages.

Vega, meanwhile, demonstrated the continued rise of an athlete who had previously shone by winning gold at the last edition of the games and setting a Puerto Rican national record of 75.98 meters in March 2024.

Del Real—who finished fourth at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and holds a personal best of 78.86 meters—once again established himself among the continent’s top athletes in the discipline.