Ramon Hernandez Jr. Wins First Senior Pan Am Open Medal in Chile

Ramon Hernandez Jr. Wins First Senior Pan Am Open Medal in Chile

(Colorado Springs, CO) – Twenty-three-year-old Ramon Hernandez Jr. (Pompton Lakes, NJ / North Jersey Judo) won his first Senior Pan American Open medal in Santiago, Chile on Sunday where he took bronze in the 81 kg division.

2024 Santiago Pan American Open Results

Hernandez lost his opening match on penalties in overtime to 2023 Pan Am Games silver medalist Jorge Perez (CHI).

Perez went on to win gold, Hernandez won his next two matches for bronze, taking both of his next two wins by ippon in the opening minute against Agustin Venegas (CHI) and Hugo Cumbo (VAN).

Two of Hernandez’s teammates fought for bronze medals in the 57 kg division, but each finished fifth.

The reigning USA Judo Senior National Champion, Noran Elmahroukey (New Providence, NJ / NYAC / Colton Brown Training Center), drew 2023 Pan Am Games bronze medalist Kristine Jimenez (PAN) in her opener and lost by ippon to Jimenez who went on to win gold. Elmahroukey won her repechage match to Elizabeth Segura (CHI), but lost to 2023 Pan Am Games silver medalist Brisa Gomez (ARG) for bronze.

Toni Pepia (Staten Island, NY / Staten Island Judo Jujitsu Dojo), a bronze medalist at the 2023 President’s Cup, ended her first senior IJF tournament with a 2-2 record for fifth place. Pepia defeated 2022 Cadet Pan Am-Oceania Championships bronze medalist Martina Moreno (CHI) by ippon in the final minute before a loss by a waza-ari to Gomez. Pepia took on two-time Pan Am Open Champion Marian Flores (PER) in the bronze medal final and fought into the fourth minute before losing by ippon.

Top eight and U.S. results are as follows:

Men’s 60 kg
1. Juan Ayala (ECU)
2. Steven Morocho (ECU)
3. Bryan Garboa (ECU)
3. Jairo Moreno (ESA)
5. Hiroki Kudo (JPN)
5. Jeronimo Pino Balbin (COL)
7. Sebastian Sancho (CRC)
7. Tylor Collin (CAN)

Women’s 48 kg
1. Keisy Perafan (ARG)
2. Gabriela Narvaez (PAR)
3. Erika Jara (ECU)
3. Ayinko Toloza (CHI)
5. Martina Diaz (CHI)
5. Manuela Crespo (COL)

Also Competed: Anat Tsyrlin (Fair Lawn, NJ / Colton Brown Training Center), 0-2

Men’s 66 kg
1. Diego Calix (ESA)
2. Koya Hashimoto (JPN)
3. Reinaldo Caceres (CHI)
3. Juan Postigos (PER)
5. Keiner Sanchez Garnica (COL)
5. Lenin Preciado (ECU)
7. Franco Baltazar (PER)
7. Michael Vargas (CHI)

Women’s 52 kg
1. Lilian Cordones (PAN)
2. Aracelly Barrionuevo (ECU)
3. Driulys Rivas (PER)
3. Wendy Golu (COL)
5. Amelie Grenier (CAN)
5. Judith Gonzalez (CHI)

Men’s 73 kg
1. Olivier Gagnon (CAN)
2. Justin Lemire (CAN)
3. Javier Saavedra (PER)
3. Juan Pablo Vega (CHI)
5. Johan Lagos (CHI)
5. Tomas Hernandez (CHI)
7. Sebastian Alonso (ARG)
7. Edinson Letelier (CHI)

Women’s 57 kg
1. Kristine Jimenez (PAN)
2. Astrid Gavidia (ECU)
3. Brisa Gomez (ARG)
3. Marian Flores (PER)
5. Toni Pepia (Staten Island, NY / Staten Island Judo Jujitsu Dojo)
5. Noran Elmahroukey (New Providence, NJ / NYAC / Colton Brown Training Center)
7. Elizabeth Segura (CHI)
7. Kiara Arango (PER)

Men’s 81 kg
1. Jorge Perez (CHI)
2. Demis Gomez (CHI)
3. Ramon Hernandez Jr (Pompton Lakes, NJ / North Jersey Judo)
3. Franco Toscanini (CHI)
5. Nicolas Leyton (CHI)
5. Hugo Cumbo (VAN)

Women’s 63 kg
1. Marcela Alfaro (CHI)
2. Constanza Perez (CHI)
3. Ingrid Choco (COL)

Men’s 90 kg
1. Yuta Galarreta (PER)
2. Mariano Coto Bersier (ARG)
3. Sandro Botto (CHI)
3. Jhon Caicedo Sinisterra (COL)
5. Alec Garand (CAN)

Women’s 70 kg
1. Diana Brenes (CRC)
2. Mackarenna Figueroa (CHI)
3. Heydi Santillana (COL)
5. Fernanda Cornejo (CHI)

Men’s 100 kg
1. Ivo Dargoltz (ARG)
2. Rafael Romo (CHI)
3. Junior Angulo (ECU)
3. Juan Diego Turcios (ESA)
5. Jaider Mora (COL)
5. Erik Escrich (CHI)

Women’s 78 kg
1. Brenda Olaya (COL)
2. Coralie Godbout (CAN)
3. Camila Figueroa (PER)

Men’s +100 kg
1. Freddy Figueroa (ECU)
2. Gerard Takayawa (FIJ)
3. Ouga Nunome (JPN)
5. Fernando Herrera (CHI)

Women’s +78 kg
1. Izayana Marenco (NCA)
2. Katherine Quevedo (CHI)
3. Carolina Pena (CHI)
5. Kharla Casas (CHI)