Coquimbo Region Judoka Claim Two Silver Medals at School Nationals in Valparaíso

The Coquimbo region judo team secured two silver medals on Thursday at the National School Games in Valparaíso, advancing to the tournament finals in the -63 kg and +70 kg weight divisions. Muriel Cortés of Colegio Adventista de La Serena earned second place in the -63 kg category, while Alondra Carmona Gómez of Colegio María de Andacollo captured the silver medal in the +70 kg series.

Valparaíso Podiums for Cortés and Carmona

Muriel Cortés fought through a demanding bracket in the -63 kg tournament before finishing behind gold medalist Cristhel Ruiz Bustos, who represented the Valparaíso Region. Reflecting on her performance, Cortés noted that missing the podium in prior years made this finish a meaningful milestone for her athletic development. In the +70 kg division, Alondra Carmona Gómez reached the championship bout, ultimately taking the silver medal after falling to Trinidad Araya Rosales of the Metropolitan Region.

Four Silver Medals Total for Regional Delegation

The two podium finishes on Thursday build on earlier success by the Coquimbo delegation, bringing the regional team’s total to four silver medals at the 2026 school nationals. Emily Herrera of Colegio Calasanz previously secured a silver medal in the -40 kg category, and Antara Fuentevilla of Colegio Intercultural de Altovalsol added a second-place finish in the -36 kg division. Fuentevilla noted that executing an ippon during her semifinal bout secured her passage to the final match.

Regional Sports Authority Praises Athlete Discipline

Ismael Zapata Frías, the regional sports ministerial secretary, expressed pride in the athletes’ accomplishments following Thursday’s matches. Zapata Frías highlighted the dedication required in judo, emphasizing the extensive time investment, discipline, and professionalism demonstrated by the sub-14 athletes, their coaching staffs, and their families throughout the competitive cycle.

Team Sports Exit at Semifinal Thresholds

While the judo team advanced deep into the tournament, Coquimbo’s female team handball and basketball squads fell short of reaching their respective semifinals. In handball, the Colegio San Viator delegation from Ovalle dropped a narrow 14-16 decision to opponents from the Araucanía Region. Meanwhile, the Colegio Santa Teresa de Illapel basketball team was defeated 39-49 by Colegio Gabriela Mistral de La Ligua.