Yipsi Moreno of Cuba takes silver in the women's Hammer Throw (© Getty Images)
Reigning Olympic and World Championships silver medallist Yipsi Moreno broke her NACAC Hammer Throw record with 75.64m and emerging Yarelis Barrios improved her Discus Throw best by five metres with a massive 66.68 as Cuban throwers stole the show at a local meeting at the University of Technology campus on Saturday 3 March.
Moreno, one of the 16 Cuban athletics on a three-week training camp in Jamaica, set her previous standard of 75.18, set in April 2004.
The 2001 Edmonton and 2003 Paris World champion saved the best for last with three massive last rounds of 74.48, 75.64 and 75.43m.
“I am happy to finally have been able to break my record. I have had a good start this year, without physical problems and it is the first time I improved my PB twice in the same competition”, said the 26-year old from Camaguey.
Arasay Thondike was second with a 70.90m release, the first 70m+ effort of her career.
The real surprise of the weekend came in the women’s Discus Throw when 23-year old Yarelis Barrios improved her previous best three times and added nearly six meters to her new mark to win in 66.68.
The CAC Games silver medallist opened her series with 60.50 and then kept improving to 62.20, 64.20 and 66.68. After a foul, she ended with 63.11. Her training partner, pre-favourite, CAC Games champion and 2004 Olympic finalist Yania Ferrales had to settle for second with 63.32. Barrios’ previous best was 61.01 from her overseas debut in Halle, Germany, in May 2006.
Yudel Moreno threw 80.09 release in the men’s Javelin.
Jumpers also excelled with CAC Games silver medallist Alexis Copello landing at 17.21m in the men’s category. Copello, back from an injury that forced him out of the indoor campaign, was followed by veteran Yoelbi Quesada, the 1997 World champion, who reached 17.01.
NACAC Under-23 champion Yarianna Martínez flew to 14.61 in the women’s Triple Jump smashing her previous best of 14.28 from 2006.
The throwers will return home on Thursday (8) to contest the Throws National Championships in Santiago de Cuba. The rest of the team will travel back to Cuba on 11 March.
Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF
