Osleidys Menendez (CUB) (© Getty Images)
Huelva, SpainMen’s jumping and women’s throwing events were the pinnacle of the 11th Ibero-American Championships held throughout last weekend (6-8 August).
Overall it was the host nation Spain who dominated on the medal table with a haul of 38 medals comprising 16 golds, 12 silvers and 10 bronze medals, while Cuba amassed 21 places on the podium (14 / 7 / 0) and the Brazilian team clinched 23 medals (6 / 9 / 8).
Championships summary…
Moreno and Menéndez ready for the Olympic battle
Double World Hammer champion Yipsi Moreno added another victory to her successful career and her winning-streak has now risen to18. The Cuban star, still 23, was an overwhelming victor thanks to a 71.06 first heave, well ahead of Spain’s European Junior bronze medallist Berta Castells, runner-up in 64.96m.
Moreno remains unbeaten this year having exceeded the 71m barrier in all her 13 appearances this season topped by a 75.18 world leading performance (Area record) set in La Habana on 25 April; already fourth at the Sydney Games four years ago aged 19, Moreno will face the Athens Olympics as the hot favourite.
“I felt fine during the contest but I had no special motivation; my primary goal is now the gold medal in Athens but I don’t rule to break the World record (Mihaela Melinte, 76.07)” commented Moreno.
66.90m throw from Menendez
Another world class Cuban thrower Osleidys Menéndez was unchallenged in the women’s Javelin. On the final day (Sunday 8 Aug) the former (2001) World champion produced a 66.99 release in round 3, not too far from her world leader mark of 68.23.
To complete the Cuban success in the women’s throws Yumileidi Cumba took the Shot Put in a PB of 19.97 and Yania Ferrales won the Discus with a 61.11 toss.
Joan Lino Martínez (8.26) and David Giralt (17.12) excel
Wearing the Spanish vest for the first time Joan Lino Martínez took a commanding win in the men’s Long Jump with a PB of 8.26 second round leap in a following wind of 1.7m/s. Cuban-born, Martínez gained Spanish nationality last July and should be a serious medal contender in Athens.
Yesterday, he beat Venezuela’s Víctor Castillo (2004 8.34 performer) who had to settle for second with a 7.95 leap (+1.4), while reigning Olympic champion Cuba’s Ivan Pedroso proved to be out of form and could only manage 7.78 (+0.3) in the final round to finally take bronze.
In the men’s Triple Jump Cuba’s David Giralt produced a third round effort of 17.12 to win untroubled from his countryman Yoel García, runner-up with 16.59. Giralt, who will turn 20 four days prior to the Olympic Triple Jump final, came fourth at last year’s Worlds in Paris with a 17.23 effort after smashing setting a PB of 17.31 in the qualifying round.
Martínez triumphs over 21m
Spain’s 2003 World Indoor Shot champion Manuel Martínez faced Chile’s Marco Antonio Verni who had dramatically bettered his PB to a high quality 21.14 effort last 29 July in Santiago de Chile. Verni’s previous PB had been 20.38.
Verni’s opener was measured at 20.17, some 22 cms further than Martínez’s first round, with the Spaniard having to wait until his fifth attempt to take charge of the contest thanks to a finally winning 20.59 heave.
Carlos Santa of theDominican Republic snatched gold in the men’s 400m in a PB of 45.05, ahead of Cuba’s Yeimar López (45.21) who narrowly defeated Mexico’s former (1999) World bronze medallist Alejandro Cárdenas, who was third with a 45.22 clocking.
In the 400m Hurdles Spain’s Iván Rodríguez beat the pre-race favourite Portugal’s Edivaldo Monteiro in a PB of 49.08 to assure his Olympic berth.
Spain’s non Olympic qualifiers José Manuel Cortés and Sergio Gallardo prevailed in the middle-distance events with respective clockings of 1:46.52 (800m, Cortés) and 3:37.24 (1500, Gallardo), the latter pipping Brazil’s Hudson de Souza (3:37.66) in the closing stages. De Souza clinched gold the day after in the 3000m event from Spanish 5000m champion Carlos Castillejo in a photo-finish (7:51.25 to 7:51.26).
...and more winners
Other notable victors on the women’s side included Zulia Calatayud in the 800m (2:01.30 to Spain’s Mayte Martínez’s 2:01.39). Seville 1999 World 400m Hurdles champion Daimí Pernía, brought down her season best to 54.84, and 20-year-old Yusmay Bicet took in the women’s Triple Jump with a 14.51 leap.
Portugal dominated the women’s distance events in the guise of Fernanda Ribeiro (5000m, 15:27.53) and Jessica Augusto (3000m, 9:02.36). Mexico’s Romary Rifka clinched top spot in the women’s High Jump with a 1.94 clearance, the same height than Spain’s Marta Mendía. Aliuska López was a convincing winner in the women’s 100m Hurdles, clocking 13.25 into a headwind of 2.1.
Despite a false start, Brazil’s Vicente L. de Lima was fastest in the men’s 100m in 10.15 (no wind), 0.06 seconds clear of his compatriot André Domingos da Silva, while in the high hurdles Cuba’s Yoel Hernández won easily, clocking 13.49. Mexico’s Juan Pedro Toledo had no rival in the men’s 200 with a 20.84 time (- 4.3m/s) winning.
Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF
