Athletics in Europe: Yaimé Pérez leads day of three first places for Cuba

July 6, 2021

Five Cubans competed last Saturday in competitions on European soil and closed the day with three first places, two second places and some marks that indicate the good progress of their preparation less than a month before the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

In the Italian city of Lignano, discus thrower Yaimé Pérez won another first place of the season, this time with a best throw of 64.20 m in a competition that didn't demand much from her but in which the Caribbean athlete set the meeting record.

The 2019 world champion and serious contender for the Olympic title in Tokyo 2020 achieved that mark on her third attempt, after taking the discus to 60.46 m and 62.74 m in her two previous attempts. Later she closed the event with 62.92 m, a no-throw and another of 63.38 m.

In second place was Brazilian Andressa de Morais with a modest 59.16 m, while third place was taken by local Giulia Pezzeta with a poor 41.96 m.

In the same Italian city, young Leyanis Pérez extended to 14.20 m and led the women's triple jump competition. The Cuban, double national record holder among juniors this year and owner of a best jump of 14.53 m, maintained stability over 14 meters, although she also didn't need much effort to dominate the competition.

Leyanis opened and closed the event with jumps of 13.96 m and 13.90 m which were the only ones below that barrier. Then she marked a sequence of 14.20 m, 13.13 m, 14.19 m and 14.15m. If she repeats any of those jumps in the Japanese capital it is almost certain to guarantee a surprising spot among the twelve women who will compete in the final of an event that has her teammate Liadagmis Povea, absent now, among the favorites to fight for the podium.

For her part, fellow Cuban Davisleydis Velazco finished second in the competition with a best jump of 13.97 m, achieved on her sixth and final attempt. Our athlete signed an ascending sequence marked by only one no-throw and other valid ones of 12.91 m, 13.81 m, 13.92 m and 13.95 m.

Less than a week ago the Caribbean athlete made her European debut with a mark of 14.16 m, distant from the 14.31 m she has as her best mark for 2021. Third place went to Lithuanian Diana Zagainova with a poor 13.49 m.

Meanwhile, in Belgium hurdler Zurian Hechevarría dominated the Noche de Atletismo meet with her best time of the season, a mark that confirms her projections to advance at least to the semifinals in Tokyo 2020.

The only Olympic qualifier from the Greater Antilles in that event clocked 55.33 s to finish ahead of Yadisleidy Pedroso (56.11), Cuban naturalized Italian, and local Pauline Couckuyt (57.05 s). That time represents the fourth fastest ever achieved by Zurian in her athletic career.

Likewise, in this race the Cuban improved the 56.72 s achieved less than a week ago in her first European competition, as well as the 55.68 s she had brought as her best mark in her four competitions of the current season.

The Cuban will be in Tokyo in her second Olympic Games, after finishing in 33rd place in Rio 2016. She is also one of the key figures of the long relay that will seek to reach the finals in the Japanese capital.

Back on Italian soil, high jumper Luis Enrique Zayas had a competition with several misses and ultimately finished second with a best jump of 2.25 m.

The Caribbean athlete was the only one who started when the bar was at 2.18 m, a height he cleared on his second attempt. Then, he narrowly dominated 2.22 m before recovering and clearing 2.25 m on his first try. However, the following 2.28 m proved elusive and he ultimately finished behind Belarusian Dzmitiy Nabekau, the eventual winner by fewer misses.

After recovering from some physical discomfort, this was Luis Zayas's second competition on European soil during the outdoor season, a short tour in which his best jump is the 2.27 m achieved a few days ago in Castellón. For the entire year the 2019 Pan American champion has a best jump of 2.31 m, achieved several months ago during the indoor circuit.