Colombia won another four gold medals today, one of which came in the women's ten pin bowling, to reach 50 golds in total ©CACG

The host nation Colombia have now won 50 gold medals at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, after their athletes finished first in the men’s road cycling, ten pin bowling, men’s hammer throw and women’s fencing today.

As well as their 50 golds, Colombia now boast 52 silvers and 59 bronzes, 161 medals in all.

Nelson Soto, who finished first in the Pan American Road Championships last year, seized gold for his county in the men's cycling with a time of 3 hours, 36mins and 57secs.

In doing so he becomes the first athlete from Barranquilla to win cycling gold at the Games.

The silver medal went to Panama national champion Christofer Jurado while bronze was picked up by London 2012 Olympian Carlos Linares from Venezuela.

Colombia picked up another gold today during what was the first day of athletics competition.

The 23-year-old Antioquia Mauricio Ortega, who finished 16th at the London World Championships last summer, threw a personal best of 66.30 metres in the first round which proved unbeatable.

His throw, which was 46 centimetres further than his previous best, saw him finish ahead of Jorge Fernandez from Cuba and Travis Smilke from Jamaica.

The host nation’s next gold came in the women’s team 10 pin bowling.

Mariana Duque-Marino has a chance to win yet another gold for Colombia in the women's tennis, after making the final today where she will face Olympic champion Monica Puig ©Getty Images
Mariana Duque-Marino has a chance to win yet another gold for Colombia in the women's tennis, after making the final today where she will face Olympic champion Monica Puig ©Getty Images

Their trio of Clara Guerrero, Rocío Restrepo and Laura Plazas beat Mexico with a combined score of 3,988.

Mexico also took the bronze thanks to their B team, who finished with 3,702 points.

Colombia's fencing gold came from a woman originally born in The Netherlands.

Saskia Van Erven moved to Colombia as a child and took gold today in the women’s foil.

She beat the Mexican Nataly Michel 15-10 in the final, which was fought at the Puerta de Oro Events Centre.

Anabella Acurero and Isis Giménez from Venezuela each took the bronze.

It was a good day for Colombia in sports where medals were not contested as well.

In the tennis the hosts will now have a chance to win two more golds, in the mixed doubles and women’s singles.

The mixed pair Eduardo Struvay and Maria Perez won their semi-final 6-3, 6-3 against the Mexicans Alan Nuñez and Andrea Villareal and will now face José Olivares and Kelly Williford from the Dominican Republic in the final.

In the women’s singles meanwhile Mariana Duque will now have to beat the Olympic champion Monica Puig from Puerto Rico, after the gold medallist from Rio 2016 beat Trinidad’s Breana Stampfli, by 6-1, 6-2 in her semi-final.

The Games continue tomorrow.