Yipsi Moreno of Cuba wins the Hammer Throw at the Pan American Games (© Getty Images)
Women’s Double World Hammer champion Yipsi Moreno of Cuba continues to threaten the Area and even the World record, her latest release being 74.43m (Thursday 11 March).
In her third outing of 2004, the 23-year old from Camaguey was determined to improve her 73.65 and 73.70 in the past two weeks. However, things started low with three consecutive fouls over 70 metress and when the throwing order changed, she was the first of the eight contestants to start in the fourth round.
She did not want to risk any more fouls and slowed her rotation to focus on technique and as such the 4kg implement flew to 74.43, her second best ever effort, and the competition was back in her control. She ended the series with 73.60 and 73.06.
The winning performance is close to her Area record of 75.14, set in Savona, Italy, on July 17 2003.
”It was not what I expected and I still have to work on the final effort. I have trained so well and I feel so good that I am ready for more. I know records are achieved when everything goes perfect. I was probably a little desperate. I am satisfied with my consistency, but I know the World record is within my reach", said the Pan American champion.
According to her coach Eladio Hernandez, "she has been very consistent and that means she can throw further. You don't break records every day, but we are close to it".
In training, she threw 75.48 earlier this year. Only Romania's World record holder Mihaela Melinte (76.07) and Russia's Olga Kuzenkova (75.68) stand in her way.
Moreno has averaged 72.37 in her last 13 valid throws this year.
Her training partners Yunaika Crawford (69.39) and Aldenay Vasallo (66.52) were second and third, respectively. Mexico's 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games silver medallist Violeta Guzman improved her national standard four times to 62.76 to finish fourth.
On the following day, on Friday 12 March, Arasay Tondike, 17 year-old added two more metres to her personal best for the Hammer, with 63.71, followed by another junior, Indira Salinas (61.28). Tondike, 17, was seventh at the IAAF 2003 World Youth Championships in Sherbrooke, Canada. Both aim to make the Cuban team for the World Junior Championships in Grosseto, Italy, July 13-18. Moreno and company will compete again next week.
Bisset throws 64.33
Despite world record holder Osleidys Menendez' absence, women's javelin provided long throws, when 2001 Edmonton World Championships bronze medallist Sonia Bisset delivered a respectable 64.33, her best result since November, 2002. Noraida Bicet was second with 61.44.
Another respectable performance came in the men's Long Jump, when 2000 World Junior Championships silver medallist Yoelmis Pacheco won with a wind-aided (2.4 m/s) 8.09m first effort, followed by junior Wilfredo Martinez. 15-year old Osley Vilches leapt 7.41.
Pan American junior champion Yudelkis Fernandez, 19, took the top honours in the women's contest with 6.45m (Fri 12). On Thursday, she landed at 6.54m during qualification.
Other results…
Other notable winners were Guillermo Martinez in the men's Javelin (73.78), Noleisis Bicet in the men's Hammer (69.14) as well as Yania Ferrales (62.08) and Lois M. Martinez in the Discus. 2003 world youth champion Lisandra Rodriguez improved to 52.03. Yarianny Arguelles cleared 1.80 in the High Jump, while Frank Cespedes (5.00) and Yarisley Silva (3.95) won the Pole Vault.
The fastest on the track were Misleidys Lazo in 100 meters (11.55), 18-year old William Collazo (21.27) and Daineris Bience (24.44) in the 200. Collazo also dominated the 400 with 46.75, as well as Libania Grenot (52.97). The women’s 100m Hurdles were taken by Bertha Peñalver (13.53) and Carlos Patterson (13.74), while Yasser Lisme (51.80) and Lisney Toledo (59.09) led the 400-metres Hurdles.
Some of the Island's best youth, junior and senior athletes will hold another local meeting next week at Havana's Estadio Panamericano, as part of their preparation for the Olympic Games.
