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BARRIENTOS MEMORIAL ATHLETICS MEET
It was Sahily’s day
Eyleen Ríos López
May
25, young runner Sahily Diago from Matanzas,
competing in the 800 meters, stole the day from
stellar pole vaulter Yarisley Silva, on the final
day of the Barrientos Memorial Athletics Meet, where
both Cuban women set records.
Earlier in the competition, Sahily made news with
her time of 1:58.14 minutes, setting a national
juvenile record and moving up to lead the season
ranking, but on the 25th did even better with a time
of 1:57.74 minutes, establishing an all-time record
for the event, which took place at Havana’s Pan
American Stadium.
Sahily Diago established a new 800
meter record at the Barrientos Memorial Athletics
Meet. Foto: José L. Anaya.
The
previous record (1:58.77) was set in 1997, by the
spectacular Ana Fidelia Quirot, who Sahily considers
her inspiration and example.
“She’s my idol, has always inspired me and that’s
why I consider what I did something big,” she said,
catching her breath after leaving Rose Mary Almanza
(1:59.76) and Gilda Casanova (2:05.57) behind, to
win the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
“The
goal was to reduce my time. I’m not an athlete who
comes up with lots of strategies. I go out and run,
that’s it,” she commented.
“I
think I am in the condition needed to compete at the
highest level, physically and psychologically
prepared to try myself,” Sahily said, looking ahead
to the upcoming under-20 world championship.
Yarisley had a good day, too, although she was not
happy with her 4.60 meter vault, faulting on three
attempts at the 4.75-meter bar. The Olympic medalist
has become accustomed to better performances.
Stellar pole vaulter Yarisley Silva
set a record with her 4.60 meters, but had hoped for
a better performance.
“It
isn’t easy to jump that high, but it’s the mark I
have most often reached in my career, and that’s why
I can’t be satisfied, since I aspire to more,” she
told the press after breaking an event record.
She
established the previous record of 4.40 meters in
2009, when she had not yet won her Olympic silver
medal; her bronze in the Outdoor World Championship
or her recent World Indoor Championship title.
“I
lack decisiveness at the moment I throw myself back
with the firm pole, and I suppose that this, along
with the wind that was strong, was what got me
today,” she added, obviously discontented. The young
vaulters Lisa Salomón and Aslin Quiala joined her on
the podium, still far behind with their 3.40 meter
efforts.
Another exciting event was the 800 meter men’s race,
which brought fans in the bleachers to their feet,
as Jorge Liranzo defeated Pan American champion Andy
González by just hundredths of a second. Liranzo
finished with a time of 1:48.43 minutes, Andy with
1:48.81, and Alejandro Hernández came in third with
1:50.24.
The
men’s triple jump didn’t meet expectations, with no
one reaching 17 meters.
Ernesto Revé came out on top with 16.74 meters, with
the young Lázaro Martínez coming in second (16.50),
and Andy Díaz third (15.98). José Luis Gaspar (50.65
seconds) and Zurian Hechavarría (59.15) dominated
the 400 meter hurdles, in the men’s and women’s
divisions respectively, while Lismania Muñoz won the
javelin competition throwing for 56.16 meters.
Hammer-thrower Yirisleydi Ford reached 67.56 meters.
Attention will now turn to the continuation of the
summer season tour abroad, with Diamond League stops
in Eugene and the Gotzis Combined Events Challenge.
(JIT)
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