# Yerko Araya

Yerko Ignacio Araya Cortés (born 14 February 1986 in Antofagasta) is a Chilean racewalker. He competed in the 20 km walk at the 2012 Summer Olympics, where he placed 41st.
He has a twin brother, Edward, who is also a racewalker.

## Personal bests
### Track walk

* 10,000 m: 40:48.94 min – Canberra, 14 Enero 2018
* 20,000 m: 1:20:47.2 hrs (ht) – Buenos Aires, 5 June 2011

### Road walk

* 10 km: 43:41 min – Los Ángeles, 3 April 2004
* 20 km: 1:21:26 hrs – Canberra, 21 February 2016

## Competition record

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| Representing Chile ||||||
| 2002 | South American Race Walking Championships (U18) | Puerto Saavedra, Chile | 6th | 10 km | 49:44 |
| 2002 | South American Race Walking Championships (U18) | Puerto Saavedra, Chile | 1st | Team (10 km Youth) | 15 pts |
| 2003 | South American Junior Championships | Guayaquil, Ecuador | 6th | 10,000 m walk | 48:23.6 |
| 2003 | World Youth Championships | Sherbrooke, Canada | 9th | 10,000 m walk | 45:38.88 |
| 2004 | South American Race Walking Championships (U20) | Los Ángeles, Chile | 3rd | 10 km | 43:41 |
| 2004 | South American Race Walking Championships (U20) | Los Ángeles, Chile | 1st | Team (10 km Junior) | 12 pts |
| 2004 | World Junior Championships | Grosseto, Italy | 28th | 10,000 m walk | 48:20.94 |
| 2005 | Pan American Race Walking Cup - Junior | Lima, Peru | — | 10 km | DQ |
| 2005 | South American Junior Championships | Rosario, Argentina | 8th | 10,000 m walk | 44:38 |
| 2006 | South American Race Walking Championships | Cochabamba, Bolivia | — | 20 km | DQ/DNF |
| 2006 | South American U23 Championships / South American Games | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 3rd | 20,000 m walk | 1:31:31.0 |
| 2008 | South American Race Walking Championships | Cuenca, Ecuador | 10th | 20 km | 1:32:34 |
| 2008 | South American Race Walking Championships | Cuenca, Ecuador | 3rd | Team (20 km) | 37 pts |
| 2008 | Ibero-American Championships | Iquique, Chile | 8th | 20,000 m walk | 1:27:44.89 |
| 2008 | South American U23 Championships | Lima, Peru | 5th | 20,000 m walk | 1:31:26 |
| 2009 | Pan American Race Walking Cup | San Salvador, El Salvador | 7th | 20 km | 1:27:10 |
| 2009 | South American Championships | Lima, Peru | 2nd | 20,000 m walk | 1:23:08.2 |
| 2009 | World Championships | Berlin, Germany | 29th | 20 km | 1:24:49 |
| 2010 | South American Race Walking Championships | Cochabamba, Bolivia | 3rd | 20 km | 1:30:45 |
| 2010 | World Race Walking Cup | Chihuahua, Mexico | 10th | 20 km | 1:24:23 |
| 2010 | Ibero-American Championships | San Fernando, Spain | 2nd | 20,000 m walk | 1:25:27.5 |
| 2011 | Pan American Race Walking Cup | Envigado, Colombia | 17th | 20 km | 1:35:40 |
| 2011 | South American Championships | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 3rd | 20,000 m walk | 1:20:47.2 |
| 2011 | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 33rd | 20 km | 1:27:47 |
| 2011 | Pan American Games | Guadalajara, Mexico | – | 20 km | DQ |
| 2012 | World Race Walking Cup | Saransk, Russia | 79th | 20 km | 1:30:24 |
| 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 41st | 20 km | 1:25:27 |
| 2013 | Pan American Race Walking Cup | Guatemala City, Guatemala | 12th | 20 km | 1:29:43 |
| 2013 | World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 22nd | 20 km | 1:24:42 |
| 2014 | South American Games | Santiago, Chile | 5th | 20,000 m walk | 1:24:13.8 |
| 2014 | World Race Walking Cup | Taicang, China | — | 20 km | DQ |
| 2015 | Pan American Race Walking Cup | Arica, Chile | 16th | 20 km | 1:26:31 |
| 2015 | Pan American Race Walking Cup | Arica, Chile | 8th | Team (20 km) | 85 pts |
| 2015 | South American Championships | Lima, Peru | — | 20,000 m walk | DQ |
| 2015 | World Championships | Beijing, China | 49th | 20 km walk | 1:29:12 |
| 2018 | South American Games | Cochabamba, Bolivia | 3rd | 20,000 m walk | 1:29:37 |
| 2018 | Ibero-American Championships | Trujillo, Peru | 4th | 20,000 m walk | 1:25:07.20 |
| 2019 | South American Championships | Lima, Peru | – | 20,000 m walk | DNF |