World and Olympic champion Nelson Evora flies to victory in the triple jump (© Getty Images)
Lisbon, PortugalOn Sunday (12) and Monday (13) of this week the capital of Portugal welcomed the second edition of Lusofonia Games, the games of the countries who shares the Portuguese language or some links with the culture.
In this first of two days of athletics, the Olympic and World Triple Jump champion Nelson Évora, just a few days after becoming World University Games champion, showed his power and made 17.15m (+1.5 m/s wind) for an “easy” win ahead of Jefferson Sabino (16.84).
In the women’s Long Jump, the 2008 leader and World Indoor champion Naide Gomes won with 6.74m (w:+2,2) ahead of Brazilian Kelia Costa (6.71m, w:+2.1) in a emotional event.
Other Olympic medallists were also competing at the Lisbon track, as Francis Obikwelu the European record holder, was the winner of the 100m in 10.18 (+1.7) without any real competition, and Rui Silva, 2004 Olympic bronze medallist in 1500m ran the 800m in Lisbon to be second in 1:49.03, after Brazilian Lutimar Paes (1:48.89).
After this, Luciana Moura (BRA) won the women’s 100m in 11.30 (+2,0), ahead of Portuguese Sónia Tavares (11,39), bronze medallist in 2009 World University Games, and Fabiana Moraes (BRA) win the 100m Hurdles in 13.32 (+0.5).
In the Shot Put, the Portuguese record holder (with 20.52m) Marco Fortes made 19.74m.
On the second and final day, the wind made a strong appearance and some results had this help, as the 200m, when Arnaldo Abrantes (POR) ran 20.64 (+2,4), ahead of Brazilian Bruno Barros (20,79), or in the Long Jump, where Marcos Chuva (POR) leapt 8.09 m (+3.9).
The highlight of day two focussed on Sara Moreira (POR), who returned from Belgrade after two wins in the World University Games in the 3000m Steeplechase and in the 5000m, to win the women’s 5000m (15:45.05).
In the women’s 400m hurdles, the Brazilian Lucimar Teodoro ran 56.69sec.
The countries competing in Portugal were: Brazil (BRA), Angola (ANG), Cape Verde Islands (CPV), Moçambique (MOZ), São Tomé e Príncipe (STP), India (IND), Guinea (GUI), Equatorial Guinea (GEQ), Macao (MAC), East Timor (TLS), Sri Lanka (SRI) and Portugal (POR).
António Manuel Fernandes for the IAAF
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