Ramiro Ulunque competing this weekend in South American Indoor Championships

COCHABAMBA, Bolivia -- Point Park University junior Ramiro Ulunque will be representing his home country of Bolivia at the South American Indoor Track & Field Championships this coming weekend Jan. 27-28. Ulunque will be competing in the 800 meters at the meet, which is taking placing in his hometown of Cochabamba, Bolivia. 

The South American Indoor Track & Field Championships have two qualifiers from each country on the continent for each event. Ulunque is the No. 1-ranked men's 800 meter running in his home nation. He earned the top spot by running a indoor career-best time of 1 minute, 55.87 seconds at the YSU Icebreaker on Dec. 1, 2023. 

Ulunque's qualifying time also set a U-23 national record for Bolivia. The meet he's competing at this weekend is for all age groups, however. This is the second time that he has represented Bolivia at a South American Championship. He qualified for the outdoor championships last year. 

"It is great to be back competing for Bolivia,' said Ulunque. "It had always been a dream of mine since I started training. To be back a second time doing it, is amazing."

What's more, Ulunque has not been back to his hometown for over a year. A challenge will be that Cochamba is a 8,000 feet above sea level. 

Ulunque's career-best 800 meters overall was during the outdoor season last year. That was 1:51.98 to qualify for the NAIA Oudoor National Championships. He finished 24th in the NAIA 800 last year and is an all-conference performer in the event.