Triple and long jumpers steal the show in Havana

Havana, Cuba. The new generation of Cuban athletes showed their potential on Thursday and Friday (24/25 Feb) at Havana's Estadio Panamericano, with less than one month to go to the National Championships (March 18-20).

Triple jumpers Yoandri Betanzos and Yusmay Bicet stole the show with world class results on Thursday, and one day later long jumpers Ibrahim Camejo, Yargelis Savigne and Yudelkis Fernandez added other fine performances to prove they are also ready to aim at higher goals.

17.39m Triple for Betanzos

 Betanzos, who turned 23 years of age during his recent three-week indoor tour in Europe, flew out to 17.39m, his best result ever on home soil and the best leap in Cuba since Yoelbi Quesada jumped 17.68 in 1993.

The 2003 Paris World Championships silver medallist opened with a foul and moved to the lead with a season best of 17.17. He backed it up with a 17.00-meter effort. He then landed at 17.39 and after another foul ended his series with a solid 17.29.

"I really wanted to come back home as it was very cold in Europe. I felt a minor pain in my right ankle. I did not want to risk it in the winter as I was already injured in the same place just before the Olympics", Betanzos explained. "I knew I was in good form, but could not find my best run-up in Europe. I am still recovering from the jetlag. I am even happier with the mark and my consistency. We can jump much farther this year", he continued.

Osniel Tosca (16.92), 19-year old Alexis Copello (16.90), Yoelbi Quesada (16.61) and 2003 World Youth champion Dennis Fernandez (16.48) followed.

Women’s Triple – Bicet also in good form

Minutes later Olympic ninth-place finisher Yusmay Bicet also showed good form early this season with her second best ever (14.54). The 1.88m tall jumper opened with a foul and then leapt to 14.54, but had to end her competition due to a pain in her knee.

"It was a good start. I was close to my personal best (14.61), but could not continue as I felt a pain in my right knee. Women's Triple Jump has improved a lot in the last few years and you have to be in good form to be in the elite. We don't want to be left out", said the 2004 Huelva Iberoamerican champion. "I still have to work on the second jump and my teammate Mabel Gay, recovering from injury, and I can break the national record (14.77)", she added. Yaima Kindelan (13.61) was a distant second.

Long Jumping talent on show

On Friday, Yargelis Savigne and Yudelkis Fernandez took advantage of their friendly rivalry as both went over 6.70m in their second outing of the year. Savigne, 20, opened with a personal best of 6.71 and repeated the same mark in the second round, while 19-year old Fernandez, after an opening foul, responded with 6.41. The event leader felt she was ready to attack the national record (6.99 set by Lisset Cuza in 2000), but could hardly control her emotions and could only manage a 6.23 in the fifth round after two fouls. Fernandez, the best Cuban junior sportswoman in 2003-2004, saved her best for the third round with a 6.70-metre effort and backed it up with 6.52 in her fifth attempt. Both ended the competition in the fifth round.

"I have trained hard to achieve this result and I though I was going to land at about 6.90. I want to dedicate this accomplishment to my coach Milan Matos and my mom, who will give birth to my little bother", she commented. “It is good to have this rivalry (with Yudelkis Fernandez) and I am sure both will continue to make progress and the national record can be broken. I need to improve the final part of the run-up if I want to reach the seven-metre mark.”
 
In the men's event, the great Ivan Pedroso opted to train but saw his training partner Ibrahim Camejo fly to 8.20. Camejo, the 2002 Iberoamerican champion in Guatemala, has returned to competition following a two-year disciplinary ban. The 22-year old opened with 7.83 and had three long fouls before he finally managed to jump 8.20 in the fifth round, followed by 8.04 in the last attempt.

"I felt fast today and did not lose control of myself because of the fouls. I was waiting to produce a good jump and I did. We learn a lot from training with Pedroso, he helps us a lot. I hope to make the team for the Worlds and qualify for the finals", affirmed Camejo, who has a personal best of 8.24 (2002). Reinier Reyes (7.81) and Wilfredo Martinez (7.79) were second and third, respectively.

Savigne, Fernandez and Camejo are coached by Milan Matos, who took Ivan Pedroso to the 2000 Olympic crown and nine World titles (1993-2001).
  
Menendez tests her form with a heavier javelin
   
World record holder and Olympic champion Osleidys Menendez tested her form after a three-week training camp in Cienfuegos, with a heavier javelin (700g) and threw the implement out to 57.60m after a 55.45 first effort.

"We are training with heavier javelins as we are focusing on strength now. I am content with the results of the first test this year. The preparation is going well I expect to make my debut this year short before the national champs", said a happy Menendez.

In the men's event, with the official javelin, two-time Pan American Games gold medallist and 2000 Sydney Games finalist Emeterio Gonzalez took the 800g implement to 75.05m, better than Yudel Moreno (74.77) and Maximo Rigondeaux (74.56).

On the track…

Adriana Muñoz, the two-time Pan American champion in Santo Domingo 2003, was narrowly beaten by 20-year old national junior record holder Yuneisy Santiusty in the 1500m (4:15.3 to 4:15.7) on Thursday, but took revenge with a clear win in the 800m (2:04.3), over her younger rival (2:05.5).

Maury Castillo, the 2003 Pan American junior champion, won the men's 800m event in 1:48.7.

Back in-field…

Discus throwers could not repeat their good results of the previous week as they were severely affected by a heavy rain. Yarelis Barrios (57.59) and Frank Casañas (59.73) emerged as the winners.

Other winners were Yarianny Arguelles (1.87) and Dailen Ortega (2.16) in the High Jump, Katiuska Perez in the Pole Vault (4.00), Erick Jimenez in the Hammer Throw (70.89).

The series of local competitions will continue next week at the Estadio Panamericano in Havana, where 2004 Hammer Throw Olympic bronze medallist Yunaika Crawford is expected to make her season debut. Yipsi Moreno, the two-time world champion and Olympic silver medallist, will begin to compete later this year as she is recovering from a foot injury.

Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF