Six athletes from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) archery team earned five medals — one gold and four silver — at the Copa Presidente 2026, a national tournament sanctioned by World Archery Mexico held in Apizaco, Tlaxcala, from March 18 to 22, 2026.
The competition took place at the Ciudad Deportiva de Alto Rendimiento-Tlaxcala and featured 535 archers representing 23 different delegations from across Mexico.
Martha Gómez Noriega, a graduate of UNAM’s Faculty of Political and Social Sciences and a member of the university’s Archery Extension Program, won the gold medal in the master (+50 years) women’s compound bow category. At 62 years ancient, Gómez overcame strong winds during the qualification round to finish above her sole rival before securing victory in the Olympic round (elimination stage) with 110 points, defeating local archer Bricia Morales, who scored 59 points.
“My main goal was always to win first place. Once they placed the gold medal around my neck, celebrating with my UNAM teammates — including my son Emilio — was a feeling that cannot be described in words,” Gómez said following her victory.
Uriel Castro Pérez, a student at the Faculty of Aragón (FES Aragón), claimed two silver medals. He earned his first individual silver in the under-24 men’s compound bow category after a tense semifinal where he tied at 138 points and advanced via a perfect “10” in the shoot-off arrow. He lost the final by just one point. His second silver came in a team event, though specific details of the team competition were not disclosed in the verified sources.
Additional medalists included Ana Arcos, a psychology student who competed in the tournament, though her individual result was not specified in the available records. The remaining three auriazules (UNAM-affiliated athletes) who contributed to the team’s medal count were not named in the verified content.
The UNAM archery program has demonstrated consistent performance in recent national and metropolitan events. In October 2025, the team won 12 medals — five gold, five silver, and two bronze — at the Metropolitan Archery Championship held at the Adolfo López Mateos Professional Unit of the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) in Zacatenco. Erika Gabriela Baeza Fonseca, also from Preparatoria 1, won gold in the under-18 women’s compound bow category at that event and has since continued her development as a national-level competitor.
According to updated standings referenced in the April 16, 2026, edition of Gaceta UNAM, Baeza Fonseca’s silver medal performance at the Copa Presidente contributed 89 combined points from the qualification and Olympic rounds, placing her temporarily in third position on the National Bonus Table in the youth category and positioning her among the top three potential national team selections.
World Archery Mexico oversees the certification of judges and enforcement of competition rules for events like the Copa Presidente, ensuring adherence to international standards. The federation supports athlete development through sanctioned tournaments that serve as qualifiers for higher-level competitions, including potential Olympic pathway events.
As of the latest verified information, no official announcements have been made regarding upcoming national team camps or selection events for the UNAM archers. Athletes typically continue training through university-affiliated programs and participate in regional circuits to maintain competitive readiness.
The archery program at UNAM operates under the university’s sports directorate and includes athletes from multiple academic disciplines, reflecting a balance between athletic pursuit and academic achievement. Support structures include access to training facilities, coaching staff, and competition opportunities endorsed by national governing bodies.
With the 2026 national competition season progressing, UNAM’s archery squad aims to build on its recent success in preparation for future championships. The next confirmed checkpoint for the team will be the release of official results and selection criteria from World Archery Mexico for upcoming national team considerations.
Readers interested in following developments in Mexican university sports and archery competitions are encouraged to consult official communications from World Archery Mexico and UNAM’s sports department for verified updates.
