Carlo Cruz and Alison Salinas Win Silver and Bronze in Dakar 2026

Mexican athletes secured two podium finishes on the final day of track and field competition at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.

Carlo Cruz Tovar and Alison Aylin Salinas Espino claimed silver and bronze medals, respectively, bringing Mexico’s total medal count to 10 with three days of competition remaining.

Carlo Cruz Tovar secured the silver medal in the men’s pole vault, clearing a height of 4.85 meters. The athlete from Querétaro, who holds the Mexican under-18 record at 5.15 meters, narrowly missed the top spot on the podium.

France’s Axel Faye claimed the gold medal after clearing 4.95 meters on his second attempt. Cruz Tovar attempted the same height but was unable to clear the bar. Thailand’s Tanakorn Daengmanee matched Cruz Tovar’s height of 4.85 meters to take the bronze medal.

Alison Aylin Salinas Espino earned the bronze medal in the women’s hammer throw at the Complexe Iba Mar Diop. The athlete from Tamaulipas recorded a distance of 61.52 meters on her sixth and final attempt to secure the third-place finish.

The gold and silver medals were awarded to Milaniia Kokhan of Ukraine, who recorded a distance of 71.27 meters, and Xingyue Yang of China, who finished with 65.96 meters. Despite finishing third, Salinas Espino emerged as the top-ranked athlete from the Americas in the event.

The final day of track and field activities concluded with Mexico adding three total medals to its tally across the discipline. Kendra Duany, representing Jalisco, previously contributed a bronze medal in the women’s discus throw with a mark of 48.44 meters.

Following these results, the Mexican delegation has accumulated 10 medals during the fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games. The current count consists of three silver medals and seven bronze medals.

Delegations continue to compete across various sports as the event nears its official closing ceremony.