Medal-winning performances from Marlies Mejías at CAC Games
Central American & Caribbean Games - Individual Time Trial
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Gold - Marlies Mejias Garcia (CUB) UCI CTW: Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28
Silver - Sara Roel (MEX) Mexico
Bronze - Teniel Campbell (TTO) Trinidad & Tobago
The time trial unfolded in punishing heat, with Marlies carrying enormous pressure and expectation from her countrymen and women. She vomited before the start and, in that moment, wasn’t sure she could even take the line, never mind win. Somehow, she gathered herself, pulled everything together and delivered when it mattered most, crossing the finish line with the fastest time and earning the first gold medal of the entire Games.
"Winning the time trial was incredibly special, and to earn the first gold medal awarded across all sports at the Games made the moment even bigger. I’m so grateful to my Virginia’s Blue Ridge team and to my coach, Kristin Armstrong, for believing in me and preparing me so well. This result reflects the work we have all put in together, and I’m proud to share it with them.” - Marlies Mejías
Central American & Caribbean Games - Omnium
Gold - Yareli Acevedo (MEX) Mexico
Silver - Marlies Mejias (CUB) UCI CTW: Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28 / Cuba
Bronze - Lina Hernandez (COL) Colombia
Marlies added an omnium silver medal after an incredibly close and demanding competition. The small field made the racing even more tactical, while the intense heat and freshly painted outdoor velodrome added another layer of difficulty. Marlies fought hard through all four events, but experienced world champion Yareli Acevedo was simply too good on the day. It was a tough race in tough conditions and another performance Marlies can be very proud of.
“Yareli is such a fierce competitor, and racing against her always pushes me to be better. It was an incredibly close and difficult omnium in challenging conditions, and she was simply stronger on the day. I have so much respect for her as both a rider and a champion, and I’m grateful for the way she continues to challenge me to raise my level.” - Marlies Mejías
Central American & Caribbean Games - Road Race
Gold - Marlies Mejias Garcia (CUB) UCI CTW: Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28
Silver - Teniel Campbell (TTO)
Bronze - Yareli Acevedo (MEX)
More than three hours of fast, dynamic racing unfolded in punishing heat, with the national teams making their intentions clear: no one wanted to take Marlies to the line. The attacks came relentlessly, forcing her to cover move after move. Early in the race, she tried to create a break of her own, but with everyone fully aware of the threat she posed, no one was willing to commit and work with her.
In the final kilometers, the teams repeatedly tried to force Marlies to the front and make her carry the race. But experience matters, particularly through a technical finish. She remained patient, read the movement around her and positioned herself perfectly in the closing meters before unleashing an emphatic sprint. After doing so much work throughout the race, the margin of victory was even more convincing—solidifying Marlies’ reputation as the finest road sprinter in the Central American and Caribbean region.
Full story here: https://conta.cc/3Sajrdy
Roanoke, VA August 3, 2026 — Behind the Medals - As the Central American and Caribbean Games draw to a close, I’ve found myself thinking less about the results and more about what the medals represent. Results tell us who won. The stories behind them tell us why it matters.I was fortunate to attend the Games as an invited guest of COPACI and the CAC Games organizing committee, experiencing one of the region’s premier sporting events while proudly following Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28 athletes Marlies Mejías and Sofía Arreola as they represented Cuba and Mexico with their respective national teams.
One moment I’ll never forget was watching Marlies win the first gold medal awarded across all sports at these Games in the Individual Time Trial. I’ve been involved in cycling for most of my life, but I’ve never experienced anything quite like what followed.
The celebration erupted instantly. Coaches, teammates, officials, volunteers, media and supporters became part of one unforgettable moment. There were hugs, handshakes, kisses, smiles and tears of joy. It was wonderfully chaotic.
Of course, not every unforgettable story ends with a medal. Some belong to the athlete who fought back after disappointment, the teammate who gave everything in support of another rider, or the competitor who crossed the line knowing they had produced the very best performance they were capable of that day. Those moments deserve to be celebrated too.
My sincere thanks to COPACI and the Central American and Caribbean Games organizing committee for their warm hospitality and the opportunity to experience these Games from such a unique perspective. Congratulations to every athlete who had the privilege of wearing their nation’s colors.
Thank you for following along from Santo Domingo.
Nicola
