At the end of the summer season for athletics, and Cubans in full swing towards a new edition of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Games in Veracruz, the Cuban athletes participated in the second Continental Cup held this weekend in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Only discus thrower Jorge “Pachichi” Fernandez climbed the awards podium by winning the second place with a 62.97 meters shot, on a test won by Estonian Gerd Kanter, multiple World and Olympic medalist. The bronze medal was won by the Jamaican Jason Morgan (62.70), rival of Cuban in the oldest regional games in the world.
In this same specialty, Yaime Pérez (59.38) ended fifth, while media attention was for third place in the Croatian and big favorite Sandra Perkovic (62.08). The slip of the super star, a former opponent of Pinar del Rio Yarelis Barrios, had her stay far from her usual shots.
The other representative of the Island in the event was Roberto Janet (71.98). The hammer thrower was no problem for the Hungarian Kristian Pars (78.99), lord and master in this cycle.
A discouraging news was the seventh place for the world junior champion Yordán O’Farrill, who ran the 110 meter hurdles in 13.67 seconds, away from the 13.18 that keep him among the top ten of the event.
Finally, Sahily Diago, U-18 world silver medalist in Eugene, United States, ended sixth with 2.00.96 minutes. Notably far from her personal best (1.57.74), which she clocked at the Pan American Stadium east of Havana, she shows skills in the 800 meter race, and with Rosemary Almanza she makes a promising duo in the future.
In the tournament also stood up the Colombian triple jumper Caterine Ibarguen, who remained unbeaten since the closure of the event in London 2012, now with a 14.52 meter leap. The Colombian also made clear her participation in the Central American Games, so the options of the main figure of Cuba, Mabel Gay, are reduced to almost zero.
Morocco witnessed also the happiness of two Cuban running for other countries. Libania Grenot, nationalized Italian and first at the European Championships a few days ago, and Indira Terrero, running for Spain and bronze in that same, finsihed with the silver in the 4 x 400 meters relay. Sure, running with the colors of the Old Continent.
