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Angelita Lind

Angelita Lind, Puerto Rican athlete known as the "Angel of Puerto Rico" who excelled in the sport of track and field in both local and international events. She participated in three Central American and Caribbean Games, in which she won two gold medals, three silver medals and one bronze. She also competed in three Pan-American Games and the 1984 Olympics.

She was born January 13, 1959, in the Marín Bajo sector of the municipality of Patillas on the southeast coast of the island. From the time she was in seventh grade in middle school, she was a standout in track and field, particularly on school game days. She initially competed at the long jump, but later dedicated herself to the 800 and 1,500 meters.

She continued to compete in high school, but it was not until she began her college studies at the San Germán campus of Inter-American University that she began to build her reputation. She won all the competitions in which she competed at the University Athletic League (LAI for its acronym in Spanish).

In 1982, she competed in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Cuba where she was also the flag bearer for Puerto Rico. She won the gold medal for the 1,500 meters with a record time of 4:25.88 minutes and a silver medal in the 800 meters with a time of 2:04.34 minutes. In the latter race, there was a controversy because she crossed the finish line along with two Cubans who collided with each other, causing Angelita Lind to fall. The discussion about the order of the finish by the three athletes went all the way to the central offices of the International Federation of Track and Field. The final decision took into consideration the way the three athletes fell and it was decided that first place went to the Cuban runner Nery McKeen, while second place and the silver medal went to Angelita.

In 1982, Lind established a record of 3:34 minutes, along with Margaret de Jesús, Stephanie Vega and Marie Lande Mathius, in the 4x400 meter relay at the Rice Bayou Classic in Houston, Texas. The record was not broken until 19 years later. Four years later, at the same meet, she established a mark of 4:19.73 minutes in the 1500 meters and, in 1989, set a mark of 2:04.40 minutes in the 800 meters. Both records are still standing.

She also participated in the XXIII Olympic Games (1984) in Los Angeles, California, and the XV Central American and Caribbean Games (1986) in the Dominican Republic. In the latter, she won the gold medal in the 1,500 meters and silver in the 800 meters.

She officially retired from competition in 1992, although at 44 years of age she participated in the Masters Track and Field World Championship in Puerto Rico in 2003. She currently works for the Sports and Recreation Department of the San Germán campus of Inter-American University.

References

Astacio, Quique. "Angelita Lind". Rincón de la Fama. Atletismo. Sportprnews.com, 8 octubre 2008. En línea. 9 febrero 2009.

Gran Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico.

Paese, Gabrielle. "The Angel of Puerto Rico, Angelita Lind Stretches her Wings". Puerto Rico Herald. 13 junio 2003. En línea. 9 febrero 2009.