Ronal Longa, a new era for Colombian sprinting

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Ronal Longa, a new era for Colombian sprinting

May 22, 2025

By: Yanny Figueroa/CCS Correspondent.- Ronal Longa, just 20 years old, has written a golden chapter in South American athletics. At the Savona International Meeting, the Colombian sprinter ran the 100 meters in 9.96 seconds.

With this performance, he not only won the final but also equaled the South American record held by Brazil’s Felipe Bardi. In doing so, he secured his spot at the 20th World Athletics Championships in Tokyo 2025.

Longa represents a new generation of Colombian sprint talent. His 9.96-second finish now stands as the new national record and makes him co-holder of the continental record.

This result came during a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event, where Longa had already shown his form. In the heats, he clocked 9.99 seconds, though the run was wind-assisted (+3.6 m/s). In the final, he dominated the race. He beat Italy’s Lorenzo Patta (10.16) and the Netherlands’ Taymir Burnet (10.22), who took second and third.

“I’m very happy and thrilled to be part of my team,” Longa expressed after the competition, visibly moved. His humility belies the magnitude of his achievement: Colombia now has a new sprint champion who is beginning to make his way among the world’s greats.

The 20th World Athletics Championships, to be held in Tokyo from September 13 to 21, will be the next major event for Longa, who will seek to establish himself as one of the most promising names in sprint events on the international circuit.