News12 Jul 2006


South Americans get ready for Beijing

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German Chiaraviglio of Argentina finishes second in the Men's Pole Vault Final (© Getty Images)

Two Pole Vaulters, Argentina’s 2004 World Junior silver medallist Germán Chiaraviglio and Venezuela’s 2005 World Youth Championships runner-up Keisa Monterola are two of the highest South American medal hopes for the upcoming IAAF World Junior Championships to be held in Beijing, China on 15-20 August.

Chiaraviglio, the 2003 World Youth champion, has improved his Area junior standard to 5.70m when winning at the 2006 Iberoamerican Championships in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

The 19-year old has already attempted to erase the 16-year old World junior record of 5.80m and looks ready to give Argentina its first World title in athletics.

Monterola, who has already cleared 4.30m, needs to be at her best to put Venezuela in the medal tally for the first time ever at the World Juniors, as well as his tall countryman Albert Bravo, who has flown over 2.21m in the High Jump.

Brazil also wants to stay in the medal hunt, with steeplechase specialist Sabine Heitling, who ran 10:11.47 over 3000m with the barriers. Alafans Delfino, 17, can improve his best of 7.54m in the Long Jump.

Two-time World Youth Championships medallist Cleiton Dias Sabino has focused on the Long Jump and he can go farther than his season best of 7.47m.

2006 Iberoamerican champion Franciela das Graças Krasucki boasts fast times in both the 100m (11.50) and 200m (23.79).

In the field, Argentina’s Rocío Bárbara Comba can also dream of a medal, following her South American junior record of 58.78.

The Latin and Caribbean region, comprising both NACAC and CONSUDATLE, has been represented at all IAAF World Junior Championships, since its inaugural edition in Athens, 1986.

The area has obtained 134 medals (39 gold, 49 silver and 46 bronze) in the past 10 World Champs, led by Jamaica (14-21-20) and Cuba (16-21-13), Brazil (1-0-3),  Trinidad and Tobago (3-1-4), Mexico (3-1-1), Ecuador (1-0-1), Peru (1-0-0), Argentina (0-2-0), Bahamas (0-0-2).

Other countries have also medalled: Chile (0-1-0), Antigua and Barbuda (0-1-0), the Netherland Antilles (0-1-0), Cayman Islands and Colombia, with a bronze each.

In Grosseto 2004, no titles were clinched. Jamaica claimed nine of the region’s 13 medals. Argentina and Cuba, a silver each, Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil (one bronze) also contributed to the medal crop.

Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF

Main contenders

Argentina
Germán Chiaraviglio- Pole Vault (5.70-AJR, NR)
Juan Manuel Cano- 10km walk (43:03.34)
Rocío Bárbara Comba- Discus (58.78-AJR)

Brazil
Alafans Delfino- Long Jump (7.54)
Guilherme Gobbo- High Jump (2.15)
Cleiton Sabino- Long Jump (7.69)
Luiz Alberto de Araújo- Decathlon (7.267)
Anderson Venancio- Decathlon (7.017)
Franciela Krasucki- 100m (11.39), 200m (23.52)
Vanda Gomes- 200m (23.44)
Sabine Heitling- 3.000m ST (10:04.71)
Kauiza Venancio- Long Jump (6.16)
Tânia da Silva- Triple Jump (13.36)
Jucilene de Lima-Javelin (53.24–AJR)

Colombia
Marco Antonio Ibarguen-Long Jump (7.64A)
Warner Miller- High Jump (2.16A)
Lindon Aguanche- Long Jump (7.53w)
Yomara Hinostroza- 100m (11.50)

Ecuador
Hugo Chila- Triple Jump (16.55-NJR) and Long Jump (7.66)
Robinson Vivar- 10km walk (43:01.55)
Mauricio Arteaga- 10km walk (43:12.32)

Perú
Mario Bazán- 3.000m ST (8:50.19-NR)

Venezuela
Albert Bravo- High Jump (2.21)
Keisa Monterola- Pole Vault (4.30)

Paraguay
Víctor Fatecha- Javelin (73.06-NJR)

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