Eleven Cubans in
Debrecen
Javier
Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF
Eleven of the future stars of Cuban athletics have made the trip to Hungary to take part in the 2nd IAAF Westel World Youth Championships.
Nelkis Casabona whose personal bests are 11.72 and 23.96 will compete in both the 100m and the 200m.
Yanima Arencibia will also compete in the 200m and the 100m hurdles, her best event for which her best time is 13.54.
Indira Terrero will take part in the 400m (54.18) and Sarahy Valverde in the 800m, her best time of 2:04.85 being likely to place among the medallists.
In the field events, long jumper Yudelkis Fernandez (6.35m) and javelin thrower Yunelsis Rodriguez (49.84m) should be among the favourites together with Yamiany Pedroso who will take part in the girls’ heptathlon with a personal best of 4682 points.
There will be four boys competing for Cuba in Debrecen, best of whom will be triple jumpers Osniel Tosca (15.93m) and David Giralt (15.91m), the latter will also compete in the long jump (7.45m).
In the 110m hurdles, one of the best events in the history of Cuban athletics, Larry Cordero will try and defend the Cuban tradition and Dinoel Perez, running both the 100m (10.38) and the 200m (22.22) completes the Cuban team.
Of all the Cuban team members, Yudelkis Fernandez, Sarahy Valverde and Dinoel Perez have recorded marks which are better than the winning marks two years ago in Poland.
Juan Morales, Olympic silver medallist in the 4X100m relay in Mexico 1968, will act as team leader of the Cuban delegation and will be assisted by coaches Orlando Meneses,
Daniel Osorio and Jose Santa Cruz.
Cuba finished 8th out of 137 countries entered at the first edition of the IAAF World Youth Championships two years ago in Bydgoszcz with a total of 65 points, one gold medal, five silvers and three bronzes.
Mabel Gay won the triple jump whereas Glauber Garzon (400m), Sergio Hierrezuelo (400m hurdles), Yoelmis Pacheco (long jump), Francis Yoandris (triple jump) and Yunaiska Crawford won silver.
The bronze medals were conquered by Ana Lopez (200m), Anay Tejeda (100m hurdles) and Yusmay Bicet (triple jump).
