Cuban athletics has experienced intense and rewarding days recently. With the goal of increasing the number of representatives at the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo this September, the X Confrontation was held at Havana’s Pan American Stadium. Several athletes stole the spotlight, earning praise from fans by achieving personal bests and promising results.

Triple jumper Andy Hechavarría recorded his longest leap of 2025—exactly 17 meters—coming just 22 centimeters short of the qualifying standard for Tokyo. His recovery is excellent news for Cuban athletics, and the Holguín native will have another opportunity at the upcoming NACAC Championships in the Bahamas.

Meanwhile, shot putter Juan Carley Vázquez, a rising star, climbed the Tokyo World rankings with a 20.53-meter throw, his new personal best. What stands out is his consistency, with multiple attempts surpassing 18 meters. His mark now ranks among the best in Cuban history, alongside throws by Alexis Paumier and Carlos Veliz.

High jumper Dacsy Brisón improved her personal record by two centimeters, reaching 1.93 meters, the fourth-best mark ever by a Cuban woman—behind Silvia Costa (2.04 m), Ioamnet Quintero (2.01 m), and Yorgelis Rodríguez (1.95 m). Though she hasn’t yet hit the automatic qualifying standard for Tokyo, she has earned valuable ranking points, another pathway to the global event.

In the women’s 100-meter hurdles, Lisyanet Ruiz was one of the meet’s top performers, clocking 12.93 seconds, once again dipping under 13 seconds. Meanwhile, her compatriot Greisys Robles, already qualified for the World Championships, shined abroad by winning gold at Poland’s 8th Wiesław Maniak Memorial in Szczecin with a time of 12.89 seconds.

Beyond Cuban Borders

Cuba’s success extended to Europe, where Jordan Díaz, the reigning Olympic triple jump champion (Paris 2024), made a triumphant return after months sidelined by injury. The Spanish-naturalized Cuban needed just one attempt (17.16 meters) to claim the Spanish national title.

On his Instagram, Díaz expressed his joy: "After almost a year away from competition, coming back like this is priceless. I’ve missed competing so much—the nerves, the adrenaline, and above all, the love from the crowd. Thank you to everyone in the stands cheering like crazy. Your support means everything. This title is special for many reasons… and you’re one of them."

With such strong performances at home and abroad, Cuban athletics continues to build momentum ahead of the Tokyo World Championships.