Pan American Games 2023: Mariana Pajon and Kamren Larsen take BMX Racing titles in Santiago

Colombia's Mariana Pajon retained her BMX Racing title at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago's Parque Peñalolen on Sunday (22 October).

The double Olympic champion moved away from her rivals at the end of the start straight and took the lead into the first corner.

Americans Payton Ridenour and Daleny Vaughn were in hot pursuit but rather impeded one another with Canada's Molly Simpson nipping through into second.

Pajon was well clear of all the trouble in behind and went on to take a facile victory to add to her previous golds in 2011 and 2019.

Simpson was second with Gabriela Bolle making it gold and bronze for Colombia.

The men's final was a much closer affair with two Americans - Kamren Larsen and Cameron Wood - in front from the start.

Diego Arboleda, in his distinctive bright yellow pants, made eyecatching progress into third place but could not close on the lead pair.

And his experienced Colombian teammate - two-time Olympic bronze medallist Carlos Ramirez - passed him late on to take bronze.

At the front, Larsen just managed to hold on to take gold from Wood by five-hundredths of a second.

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Pan American Games 2023 BMX Racing Finals - results

Women's

1. Mariana Pajon (COL) 34.400
2. Molly Simpson (CAN) +1.600
3. Gabriela Bolle (COL) +2.100
4. Priscilla Stevaux (BRA) +4.300
5. Payton Ridenour (USA) +5.400
6. Domenica Azuero (ECU) +6.900
7. Daleny Vaughn (USA) +7.400
8. Paola Reis (BRA) +18.900

Men's

1. Kamren Larsen (USA) 31.810
2. Cameron Wood (USA) +0.050
3. Carlos Ramirez (COL) +0.590
4. Diego Arboleda (COL) +0.990
5. Mauricio Molina (CHI) +2.090
6. Emiliano de la Fuente (ARG) +2.390
7. Benjamin Vergara (CHI) +38.190
8. Gonzalo Molina (ARG) DNF