Costa Rica secured three medals and established four new national records at the 2026 Youth and Masters Open South American Archery Championship in Daule, Ecuador, held from October 14 to October 18, 2026. The delegation brought home two gold medals and one silver medal across the continental events, with athletes from Cartago and Heredia driving the podium finishes.
Cartago and Heredia Archers Lead the Medal Count
The continental competition in Daule showcased strong performances from Costa Rican athletes in both youth and masters divisions. Yhorman Morales Fuentes of Cartago captured the individual gold medal in the under-15 men’s compound archery category. Morales finished first in the qualification round with a score of 682 points, breaking two national records during the tournament.
That performance marked an upward trajectory from his earlier international outing at the 2026 Youth Pan American Championship in Medellín, Colombia, held in May 2026, where he earned a bronze medal. In that previous tournament, Morales had registered 678 points in qualification, surpassing his previous mark by four points in Ecuador.
Title Deciders and Close Margins in Ecuador
Carlos Salas Rodríguez added a second gold medal for Cartago in the over-50 men’s compound division. Salas secured second place in the qualification round with 647 points before defeating a Brazilian competitor by a narrow 140 to 139 margin in the title match.
The third medal for the delegation went to Carlos Córdoba Mora of Heredia, who claimed silver in the under-15 men’s recurve category. Córdoba placed second in qualification with 645 points and set two new national records over the course of the event.
Coaching Structures Behind the Continental Podiums
Cartago medalists Morales and Salas train under Auxiliadora Argüello Mora and Alexander Mora Arias, coaches with the Comité Cantonal de Deportes y Recreación de Cartago (CCDRC). Meanwhile, Córdoba Mora trains under the guidance of his father and coach, Carlos Córdoba, who oversees his ongoing technical development in the sport.
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