Throwers and jumpers headline at the Cuban National Olympics

  Guillermo Martinez threw the men’s Javelin to a season world leading 85.02m, while Yargelis Savigne won the women’s Long and Triple Jumps and Yumileidi Cumbá and Osleidys Menéndez respectively retained their women’s Shot Put and Javelin Throw crowns at the 2006 Cuban National Olympics, held from Thursday to Saturday (4-6 May) at the Estadio Panamericano in Havana.

In the non throwing events, two other Cuban stars, Triple Jumper Yoandri Betanzos lost on home soil for the first time since 2001, and High Jumper Víctor Moya could not overcome a pain in his right knee and went home without medals.

Athletes from Canada, Mexico and Venezuela also claimed medals and broke some national senior and junior records.

Martínez hits personal best

2005 Helsinki World Championships finalist Guillermo Martínez was in command of the Javelin contest from the very first round (78.70m) and stayed around 78-79m in the next four attempts (78.22, 79.44 X 79.04). He then released the 800g implement to 85.02, nearly a metre better than his previous best (84.06), from last year. It is also the furthest effort in the world so far this year. Isbel Luaces (75.00) and Emeterio González (74.65) were second and third, respectively.

"The start of the competition was delayed and I felt a bit tired in the first rounds. My coach (Miguel Bernal) encouraged me from the stands and I gave it all in the last throw. I really enjoy what I do. I want to claim my first international title this year at the CAC Games, represent the Americas at the World Cup and get closer to the national record (87.12). My ultimate goal is to reach 90 meters", said the 24-year old from Camaguey, who is currently placed 8th in the IAAF World Rankings.

Olympic champion Menendez – 63.33

In the women’s Javelin Throw, held around noon on Saturday, World and Olympic champion and world record holder Osleidys Menéndez prevailed with 63.33. In her fourth outing of the year, Menéndez opened her series with 63.10, followed by 60.89, 61.17, 63.33 and two fouls.

"The sun was very strong. I have never trained or competed at noon. The body is not used to that. I wanted to win and I did. I could not break the event record (65.85), but that’s OK. My arm is in great form, but I have to be cautious about a slight pain in the tibia of my left knew. I hope to throw far this year", stated Menéndez, who already has the world’s best throw this year, from her winning 65.02 at the Janet Memorial in Santiago de Cuba, in February. World and Olympic finalist Sonia Bisset was second in 60.65, ahead of Maria C. Alvarez (58.87). Menéndez is scheduled to attend two IAAF meetings in Brazil, in May.

Savigne wins Triple and Long Jump double

Yargelis Savigne, the 2005 World Championships silver medallist at the Triple Jump, did both the Long and the Triple over the weekend in Cuba for the first time and broke the championships records in both events.

On Thursday, the 21-year-old landed at 6.52m in the Long Jump, better than her record of 6.41 from the 2004 National Olympics. Two days later, she stayed consistent over 14m, including a best of 14.55, to claim her first national title at that event. Using the speed and her technique to face the head wind, Savigne opened with 14.21 and then improved to 14.39 and 14.55. She followed with 13.00, 14.34 and 13.86.

"I am happy to stay consistent and that can take me to 15 metres. That’s my goal this year. I also want to reach seven meters in the Long Jump. I will do both events at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Colombia and eventually at the World Cup, too", she said.

Savigne, a finalist at both the outdoor and indoor Worlds in both jumps, has already leaped 14.72 indoors and 14.60 out in 2006. She is expected to do the Long Jump at the Felix Sanchez Invitational in Santo Domingo, on May 14.
Betanzos upset by Copello in the Triple

Betanzos beaten

Six-time world youth, junior and senior championships medallist Yoandri Betanzos impressed with his opening 17.33m in the Triple Jump, 30cm more than his championships record, but his younger rival Alexis Copello reacted with a personal best of 17.38 to beat him for the first time. That was Betanzos´ first home loss since his junior ages in 2001.

"I am in great form and was able to do a good jump. Beating Betanzos means that I can also compete well with the world’s best triple jumpers", said 20-year-old Copello, who has jumped over 17m in all his outings this season. Fourth at the CAC Champs in Nassau 2005 in his international debut, he was third at the Grand Prix Orange in Guadeloupe, on 1 May.

"I opened with 17.33 and Copello answered with 17.38. I tried to jump longer, but things do not always come out your way. I did not expect to jump that well in the National Olympics, with a 13-step run-up. I am bound for Brazil to meet Jadel Gregorio. It is him or me for the World Cup", Betanzos affirmed.

Pan American junior and former world youth champion Dennis Fernández was third in 16.70, ahead of Yoelbi Quesada (16.50) and Osniel Tosca (16.38). In the men’s Long Jump, Ibrahím Camejo won in 7.87, followed by nine-time World and 2000 Olympic champion Ivan Pedroso, with his longest leap this year (7.77).

Moya in pain finishes fourth

World Championships High Jump silver medallist Victor Moya has not fully recovered from a pain in his right knee, He skipped the Caribbean tour of Martinique and Guadeloupe, but could not jump 2.24 and was out of the podium in Havana.

"My right knee still hurts. It is my takeoff leg. I am not worried. I will focus on recovery and I will be soon be back in form", explained Moya.

The High Jump gold went to another Cuban, Yunier Carrillo (2.21), in his first outing of 2006. He beat Canada’s Kwaku Boateng and Venezuela’s Albert Bravo, all with the same height. Moya cleared 2.18, passed 2.21 and failed over 2.24 and 2.26. Bravo broke the Venezuela junior record by 4cm.

Bravos´ teammate, 2005 World Youth Championships silver medallist Keisa Monterola was unlucky in the Pole Vault as she failed to clear 4.00 in her opening height.

Cumbá and Crawford also in the groove

Confirming their good from, 2004 Olympic medallist Yumileidi Cumbá (gold) and Yunaika Crawford (bronze) confirmed their good early season form with convincing winning marks in their respective events.

Cumbá won the Shot Put in 19.28m while Olympic finalist Misleidis González returned to competition with 17.85, after recovering from a serious injury. With Yipsi Moreno still out of competition, following a different training plan after overcoming injury, Yunaika Crawford took the Hammer to 70.05m.

Robles 13.46, Pernía 56.90 and Zulia second in the 1500m

Dayron Robles, a World Indoor Championships silver medallist last winter in Moscow, prevailed in the 110m Hurdles with 13.46 seconds, closely followed by Yoel Hernández (13.56). Anier Garcia is back to training after injury, but is not fully fit to race.

Daimí Pernía continued a successful comeback and ran the 400m Hurdles to win in 56.90. Her training partner, 2005 World 800m champion Zulia Calatayud was second in the 1500m with 4:23.52, behind Yuneisi Santiusti (4:20.57).

"I am OK with running 1.500m in Cuba, but I am ready to run 800m or 400m", stated Calatayud, who ran 2:01 and 2:00 minutes solo with a-30 minutes pause last week. Calatayud and Pernía, are scheduled to run 400m at the Ana Guevara’s Gala Banamex in Veracruz, Mexico, next Saturday.

Toledo leads foreign wins

Sprinter Juan Pedro Toledo, the two-time Central American and Caribbean Games 200m champion, led the Mexican squad, who totalled eight medals, including three gold. Toledo, back in Cuba for the first time since 1998, won the 200m in 21.05.

"I have trained with Cuban coaches in the last 10 years so it is very motivating to come race here. I am getting close to my best form and I want to break my national record (20.40) this season and retain my CAC Games title", said the Olympic semi-finalist.

Cuba´s 17-year old Milena Pérez crossed the finish line second with a national senior and junior record of 10:34.5.

The Cuban National Olympics, held April 23-May 6, drew over 3.000 athletes from 20 countries in 38 official and four exhibition sports.

Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF

2006 Cuban National Olympics winners

They are all Cubans, except when specified:

Men:
100m Henry Vizcaíno 10.46 (+0.2)
200m Juan P. Toledo MEX 21.05 (0.0)
400m Yerman Lopez 45.90
800m Andy Núñez (Jr) 1:48.85 CR
1.500m Maury S. Castillo 3:45.5
5.000m Isaías Haro MEX 14:14.97 CR
10.000m Norbert Gutiérrez 30:05.72 CR
20km Aguelmis Rojas 1:01:21 NR CR
110 m H Dayron Robles 13.46 (+1.5)
400m H Sergio Hierrezuelo 50.27
3.000m ST Jose A. Sánchez 8:52.98
HJ Yunier Carrillo 2.21
PV Lázaro Borges 5.20 CR
LJ Ibrahím Camejo 7.87 (+0.1)
TJ Alexis Copello 17.38 (+1.0) CR
SP Alexis Paumier 18.60
DT Yunior Lastre 55.61
HT Yosvani Suárez 73.93 CR
JT Guillermo Martínez 85.02 CR
Dec Alexis Chivás 7617 (11.18-7.20-15.00-1.95-53.44/14.78-50.52-4.00-61.97-4:56.37)
4x100m Occidentales 41.39
4x400m Orientales 3:10.60
20km Walk Yubraile Hernández 1:28:30

Women:
100m Roxana Díaz 11.43 (+4.3)
200m Roxana Díaz 23.53 (-0.2)
400m Indira Terrero 53.72
800m Yuneisi Santiusti 2:05.35
1.500m Yuneisi Santiusti 4:20.57
5.000m Yudileisis Castillo 16:32.11 CR
10.000m Yudileisis Castillo 34:03.56 CR
20km Mariela González 1:10:48 NR CR
100m H Anay Tejeda 13.17 (+1.0)
400m H Daimí Pernía 56.90
3.000m ST Angélica Sánchez MEX 10:26.1 NR CR
HJ Yarianny Arguelles 1.82
PV: Maryoris Sánchez 4.00 CR
LJ: Yargelis Savigne 6.52 (+1.2) CR
TJ Yargelis Savigne 14.55 (-1.7) CR
SP Yumileidi Cumbá 19.28
DT Yania Ferrales 59.78
HT Yunaika Crawford 70.05
JT Osleidys Menéndez 63.33
Hep Gretchen Quintana 5862 CR (14.05-1.66-12.74-23.9/6.17-36.25-2:13.79)
4x100 Centrales 44.46
4x400 Occidentales 3:36.04
20km Walk Yarelis Sánchez 1:42:16

Full results can be found at http://www.olimpiadacubana.cu/2006/ProgramaXDeport.aspx?d=Atletismo