Dayron Robles (© IAAF)
Three women and two men will represent Cuba in the 3rd IAAF World Youth Championships in Athletics, in Sherbrooke, Canada, July 9-13, aiming to win at least two medals.
Triple jumper Denis Fernandez, hammer thrower Arasay Thondike and shot putter Yaniubis Lopez are serious contenders for a position on the podium, as well as 110-meter Dayron Robles and discus thrower Lisandra Rodriguez.
Most of them have been competing together in national meets and they consider Sherbooke as the first major step in their athletic careers.
Here are the biographies of the five Cuban athletes:
Denis Fernandez (23.01.1986 in Nuevitas, Camaguey, height: 1,78m, weight: 67kg) Triple Jump
A former high jumper, Fernandez landed in 16,08 meters early this season and has been consistent over 15.70. He will compete in the triple jump, the most successful event for the Island in the history of the World Youth Champs: one gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
"When I started training, I focused on reaching the standard for the Worlds (15,65), and now my aim is to jump 16,30-16,45 and bring a medal home", said Fernandez, who trains with World Junior champion David Giralt, under Arnaldo Charadan’s guidance.
Dayron Robles (19.11.1986 in Guantanamo, height: 1,89m, weight: 79kg) 110 meter hurdles
“I am very excited as I will represent my country for the first time. My event is very competitive but I am confident I can win a medal”, stated Robles, who trains with coach Orlando Meneses.
“I am aggressive attacking the hurdles, but I still have to work on my trail leg. I usually talk to the hurdles, as my compatriot, Olympic champion Anier Garcia, suggests”, he added.
Robles, who loves reggae music, has a personal best of 13.75 running over one-meter high hurdles. He is a versatile athlete as he has 21.97 in 200m, 1.95m high jump and 18.60 in quintuple jump. His mother was a volleyball player.
Arasay Thondike (28.05.1986 in Sagua la Grande, Villa Clara, height: 1,63m, weight: 72kg) Hammer Throw
She started athletics at the age of 8 and officials immediately discovered her talent for the throws. She first practiced shot put and discus throw, before taking up the hammer at the age of 13.
“I know it’s a great responsibility to represent my country, but I will do everything I have trained at home. I have a good rhythm, but I have to work on my final effort”, she explained.
With a personal best of 59,58 and consistent throws over 58 meters, she is convinced she can reach the 60-meter mark in Sherbrooke.
Thondike, who trains with world champion Yipsi Moreno under coaches Eladio Hernandez and Manuel Portal’s guidance, hopes to claim a position of the podium, as did her training partner Yunaika Crawford, second in 1999. Her father played basketball as well as her aunts.
Lisandra Rodríguez (14.10.1986 in Santiago de Cuba, height: 1,86m, weight: 81kg) Discus Throw
Lisandra started athletics at the age of 12, following Hilda Ramirez’ instructions. Ramirez was a multiple Central American and Caribbean Games medal winner in shot put and javelin throw.
“I love my sport and I always thought of competing in the World Youth Champs. It is a great challenge, but I want to stay calm and I am my only rival”, she said. With a PB of 49.98, she believes she needs to throw 51-52 metes to win a medal.
Favored by a good arm, she currently trains under national record holder Hilda Elisa Ramos and she hopes Cuban women will return to the world elite in the discus, following on decorated athletes such as Ramos and 1992 Olympic gold medallist Maritza Marten.
She loves romantic music and hopes to study cybernetics and mathematics.
Yaniubis Lopez (01.02.1986, Songo la Maya, Santiago de Cuba, height: 1,80m, weight: 80kg) Shot put
Yaniubis started athletics at the age of 12, initially in discus, but she changed to shot put in September 2001. With a personal best of 15,54 meters, she is seriously bidding for a medal.
"It will be great experience and I hope to perform well, have a good first throw and improve my PB”, said Yaniubis, coached by Humberto Calvario. She loves to be a masseur.
Head coach Arnaldo Charadan and team manager Jose Bordon, head of the junior category in the Cuban Athletics Commission, complete the seven-person group, who travels to Canada on Monday.
In the first two editions of the World Youth Championships -Bydgoszcz, Poland (1999) and Debrecen, Hungary (2001)- Cuba obtained a total of one gold, six silver and four bronze medals. Six of them went on to win medals in World Junior Champs: Yoelmis Pacheco (long jump), Yoandri Betanzos, David Giralt and Mabey Gay (triple), Yunaika Crawford (hammer) and Anay Tejeda (100-meter hurdles).
Giralt, Gay –the only Cuban to win a world youth title- and Tejeda claimed the gold last year at the World Junior Champs in Kingston.
Two years ago in Debrecen, triple jumpers David Giralt (silver) and Osniel Tosca (bronze) were the Island's only medal winners.
