Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes; October 27, 2025.— The triathlon tryouts for the Universidad Panamericana Aguascalientes campusteam was crowned national team champion at the National Championship of the National Student Sports Commission for Private Institutions (CONADEIP), held in Acapulco.
UP Aguascalientes, National Team Champion
In this competition—which was officially recognized for the first time as part of the CONADEIP calendar—students Ángel Yépez, Santiago León, and Leonardo Chávez demonstrated their talent, discipline, and commitment by establishing the University of the Pacific ( Universidad Panamericana ) as a national leader in this demanding sport that combines swimming, cycling, and running.
At the individual level, Ángel Yépez won the gold medal, while Santiago León took the bronze, thus capping an outstanding performance by the Pan American delegation.
Passion, discipline, and university pride
For Santiago León, an international business student and member of Guatemala’s national team, this achievement represents the result of many years of hard work and a testament to institutional support for college sports.
“It was a wonderful experience. We did pretty well as a team, and I also managed to take third place individually. I’m very grateful to the university for the support it gives us so we can continue playing the sport we’re passionate about without neglecting our studies,” he says.
Santiago also highlighted the significance of triathlon being officially incorporated as a CONADEIP discipline thanks to the efforts of the National Institute for Sports Development ( Universidad Panamericana ) to support high-performance triathletes, emphasizing that this achievement represents an important step for the growth of college sports in Mexico.
A challenge and the start of a new chapter
For Leonardo Chávez, a civil engineering student, this competition marked the beginning of his journey in this sport, as he had previously devoted his life to water polo—a challenge that also highlighted his athletic versatility.
“This award means a lot to me. It reflects the hard, relentless work I’ve put in since the beginning of the year. Plus, sports opened the door for me to study at this university and have taught me the value of discipline and organization,” she notes.
Leonardo noted that winning the trophy was also a way to repay the constant support they receive from the campus, emphasizing that “bringing this award to the university is our way of thanking them for all the support they give us.”
A Path to Athletic Excellence
With an extensive track record, gold medalist Ángel Yael Yépez continues to build his athletic career both within and outside the university setting.
“I’m really happy to be able to represent the university and balance high-level competition with my studies. This year, the format was more competitive and dynamic, and we managed to earn more points as a team, which led us to the national championship,” he said.
The athlete, who has competed in various national and international events, emphasized the importance of maintaining consistent training and a commitment to continuous improvement in every discipline of triathlon.
Pan American students excel not only in their athletic performance but also in their commitment to promoting triathlon through sports initiation clubs, inspiring more students to take up the sport.
“Thanks to the guidance of our coach, Heriberto Villalobos, and the passion and talent of our students, the project has been very successful. We have taken the necessary steps to secure facilities and build relationships with the Federation and CONADEIP to create more opportunities for top-level university-level competitions,” says Luis Enrique Rejas, Sports Coordinator.
He also emphasized that, beyond athletic achievements, this program has a significant impact on the development of young people who find in triathlon a place to pursue both their athletic and academic dreams.
Universidad Panamericana reaffirms its commitment to the well-rounded education of its students, promoting sports as a means of developing values such as discipline, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership.
