Cuban Track and Field: Predicting results for Toronto and Beijing…That´s the question

Both Alberto Juantorena and Jorge Luis Sanchez, President and Commissioner of the Cuban Athletics Federation, respectively, agree with the complexity of predicting a result for the upcoming Pan American Games to be held in Toronto.

Nonetheless, other gurus affirmed Cuban delegation will try its best to improve previous performances. The athletic contribution usually boosts our delegation to the second place, if not confirm it there at Pan American Games.

This and other subjects were tackled at the press conference where Sanchez noted that 121 athletes have reached the required marks to participate in the sports event in Canada. Let’s be clear, only two athletes per sport discipline may be at the starting point.

Historically, The US (279 gold-229 silver-157 bronze) leads the medal table ahead of Cuba (177-117-104), and Brazil (56-45-59).

It is important to highlight that American stars usually decline to participate in Pan American Games. This phenomenon has also extrapolated to Jamaica and some athletes of other nations. These athletes compete in more lucrative events such as the Diamond League.

Our athletes are right now challenging time by trying to be in perfect physical shape.

For instance, 110 hurdler Yordan O’Farril ran 13.40s in Guadeloupe and qualified for Beijing and Rio de Janeiro. Daylenis Alcantara jumped 14.02m at Saint Martin. This Friday, triple jumper Pedro Pablo Pichardo (17.94m) and discus thrower Yaime Perez (63.35m) will debut in the Diamond League. Similarly, discus thrower Jorge Fernandez (66.50m) and Denia Caballero (67.87m) will participate in Halle, Germany.

PICHARDO AND YARISLEY…FACES OF CUBAN TRACK AND FIELD

Another converging point between Juantorena and Sanchez was their opinion on Pichardo: “His main battle is against himself”. “When he realizes he is the best in the world, then forget about Tamgho or any other triple jumper”, Juantorena highlighted.

Pichardo reached the 17.94m last Friday and he rocked the athletic world. The results broke the former national record set by Yoelbis Quesada (17.85s).

Like Edwards and other American triple jumpers, Pichardo depends much on his approach run (15 steps before the jump board). He explosively attacks the jump board and his first jump is very good (6.40-6.60m). If he can coordinate this power with his arms and legs, his jumps will be larger. But, he still needs to improve his technique while “flying”.

Yarisley Silva: She is right now one of the Cuban sport icons. Guadalajara 2011 was the starting point of her supreme career with such dreamed win of 4.75m over Brazilian Fabiana Murer.

Alexander Nava’s prodigal daughter tries to regain confidence. She is trying to stabilize her grip at 4.30m and coordinate her take off with the perfect body positioning. Despite her 1.61m of height, she has surpassed the 4.90m.

The Cuba pole-vaulter is fearsome. She will be in Beijing on May 17^th in the second leg of the Diamond League. Her main opponents will be American Jennifer Suhr and Mary Saxer.

Toronto’s clash will be epic.

Cubasi Translation Staff