Tamaulipas secured a historic medal haul at the 2026 National Olympiad in Apizaco, Tlaxcala, highlighted by a gold-medal victory in the Under-14 women’s compound archery team event led by Alicia Hernández Castillo, Natalia Cruz García, and Mariana Marcela Gatica, according to reports from Serpientes y Escaleras.
Historic Medal Count for Tamaulipas Archery
The state delegation collected four team medals during the national competition hosted in Tlaxcala. When combined with the 15 individual medals won earlier in the tournament, Tamaulipas reached a total of 19 podium finishes, marking an unprecedented milestone for the state’s archery program in the national event, as reported by Serpientes y Escaleras.
Gold and Silver Podiums in Women’s Compound Divisions
The standout achievement of the delegation came in the Under-14 women’s compound category. Alicia Hernández Castillo, Natalia Cruz García, and Mariana Marcela Gatica—all representing Tampico—captured the gold medal and claimed the national championship title. In the Under-16 women’s compound division, Tamaulipas added a silver medal courtesy of Valentina Torres Gómez from Tampico, Vania Herrera Juárez from Altamira, and Mariam Carmen Basilio Gómez from Tampico, according to Serpientes y Escaleras.
Men’s Team Bronze Medals
In the men’s divisions, Tamaulipas secured two bronze medals. The Under-16 compound team featured Sebastián Gallegos and Óscar Herrera from Tampico alongside Aldo García from Ciudad Victoria. Meanwhile, the Under-14 compound podium finish was earned by Eric de León, Cristóbal Chávez, and Jorge Maldonado, who also represent Tampico, as detailed by Serpientes y Escaleras.
Coaching and State Support
The athletes’ preparation involved technical guidance from coaches Jorge Payán in Tampico, Clelia Morales in Altamira, and Israel Pulido in Ciudad Victoria. Manuel Virués Lozano, general director of the Tamaulipas Sports Institute, congratulated the competitors for their dedication and noted that the results reflect backing from the state government led by Governor Américo Villarreal, according to Serpientes y Escaleras.
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