World Athletics Recognizes Inspiring Latina Track Stars: Who Are They and What are Their Records

Latinas have excelled in track and World Athletics has taken to recognizing them, as well as their achievements.

Concretely, World Athletics recognized five Latina track stars as an inspiration to the next generation: Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas, Panamanian Gianna Woodruff, Cuban Leyanis Pérez Hernández, Dominican Marileidy Paulino, and Puerto Rican Jasmine CamachoQuinn.

"These are just a few of the many women who inspire the next generation of Hispanic and Latina athletes in track and field," said Diana Ramos, writer of the publication. "Their performances in athletics highlight the importance of representation on big stages that open the door for those after them.

Rojas is an Olympic gold medalist in triple jump. She is the first featured athlete in the publication, holding a world record of 15.6m triple jump. In July, she represented Venezuela at the Central American Caribbean games in El Salvador, where she won and established the aforementioned record.

"The Latin woman is wonderful," said Rojas. "I characterize the Latin woman as a warrior woman: empowered, full of strength, full of energy and who never gives up on anything."

The second featured Latina athlete is Woodruff, from Panama, ranked 13 worldwide for women's 400 meter hurdles. She finished seventh at the World Athletics Championships Oregon 22, and fifth at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest this year.

Another achievement for her was making it to the Diamond League Finals, where she placed seventh. "I don't want to be the only one here anymore," said Woodruff. "I want other Panamanians, other Venezuelans, everyone from South America to be on this big stage with me." She wasn't born in Panama, but her mother was. Regardless, she said she wanted to ensure she represented those roots and inspired other young Panamanian girls who'd want to follow her steps.

The third track and field star is 21-year-old Cuban Pérez Hernández. She's already among the best in triple jump, her personal record being 14.98 meters, which she achieved in July in El Salvador.

Paulino, on her end, is ranked number one worldwide for the women's 400 meters. Among her achievements stands beating a record that stood still for 35 years when, at the Central American and Caribbean Games in July, she won the women's 400 meter in 49.95 seconds. Additionally, she's a trailblazer for Dominican women, being the first to win an individual title at the World Championships.

Paulino also boasts on her resume as a two-time Olympic Games silver medalist, two-time world champion, two-time diamond league winner.

Ranked number one in the world in women's 100 meter hurdle, the fifth featured Latina is Camacho Quinn, decided to represent Puerto Rico, where her mother was born. She's become an Olympic champion, World Champion Silver Medalists, World Champion bronze medalist and North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association U23 Champion.

In July, Camacho Quinn took the gold at the Central American and Caribbean games in El Salvador, breaking the game record with a 12.60 seconss time in the 100 meter hurdles. She took silver with a 12.44 100 meter hurdle in Budapest, 0.01 shy of a gold medal. She ended the season at the Prefontaine Classic, finishing second in 12.38.