Paulino cruises to 400m final at Central American Games

Marileidy Paulino effortlessly advanced to the final of the 400-meter race at the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games. The Olympic and world champion controlled her heat from start to finish, clocking 50.63 seconds to secure first place without pushing her limits.

Paulino, the most prominent athlete in Dominican track and field and a heavy favorite for the gold medal, demonstrated her regional dominance with a solid performance. Competing with the support of the Dominican crowd, she aims to add another gold medal to her impressive international record.

Her qualification keeps alive the Dominican delegation's hopes of securing more gold medals in athletics. The sport has already contributed significantly to the country's medal count in this edition of the regional event. The final is set to take place at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium.