Series15 Jan 2008


Robles ready for indoor campaign - IAAF Online Diaries

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Dayron Robles after his 12.92 in Stuttgart (© Getty Images)

month training camp in central Cuba and short New Year's celebration in his hometown of Guantanamo, top sprint hurdler Dayron Robles is ready to start his third indoor campaign with all sights on the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain, March 7-9.

With great hopes in an Olympic year, Dayron Robles is pleased to update the IAAF website readers.
 
“Dear Athletics friends,
 
“Greetings from Cuba. The indoor season is just around the corner and all is set to compete in Europe and tune up for the World Indoors in Valencia.

“Shortly after returning from the World Athletics Gala in Monaco, I joined my training partners for a one-month training camp in Santa Clara, central Cuba, under our coach Santiago Antunez' guidance.

“Before that we took a short break for New Year's, we had the first test and I ran a hand timed 6.86 second in 60m with one metre high hurdles. We usually play catch up with the women, who run 55m.

“I also improved my standing quintuple jump (19.40m), even better than jumpers and finished with a 150m test.

“I had a chance to pay a short visit to my hometown of Guantanamo to spend New Year with my family and some of my close friends. I feel very motivated with the challenges ahead and obviously being surrounded by beloved people on such a special date.

“Back to Havana, we are finalizing our programme before flying to Europe in the second fortnight of January.

“The Cuban Federation and my coach have scheduled five races for me this winter before Valencia. Goteborg, on 29 January, is set my season's debut, followed by Linz (31 January) and Stuttgart (2 February).

“The latter represents a lot to me. I have run my best races, indoor and outdoors, in that German city.

“Last winter, I clocked 7.38 and came close to the Cuban and CAC record (7.37), held by my good friend and teammate Anier Garcia. Outdoors, I ran 13.00 and 12.92 last year to join the sub-13 club and win the World Athletics Final.

“We are also planning to try the Valencia track on 9 February.

“The Olympics are certainly the main target, but a World Championship is always welcomed. I would love to improve from the silver medal in Moscow 2006, but anything can happen in a short race like the 60m Hurdles.

“I also have great expectations for my team mates indoor. From Triple Jump World champion Yargelis Savigne to Victor Moya, our male triple jump specialists. Nobody wants to be left out and that good spirit helps all of us in the team.

“The names of the top sprinters are yet to be decided. It's very close. I hope to see Yoel Hernandez, Anier Garcia, Anay Tejeda and Yenima Arencibia in the team. We also have emerging youngsters with a great potential to join the elite in the near future.

“I look forward to starting my indoor campaign and meeting my athletics friends in Europe. The cold weather is always a challenge, but that's the life of high performance. Expect positive news from me. See you soon on the track.”

Dayron
 

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