Aurelia Catalina Pentón Conde

Aurelia Catalina Pentón Conde, known as Yeya, Cuban athlete, runner of the 400m and 800m, Central American champion in 1974 in the 400 meters and obtains a silver medal in 800 meters, Pan-American bronze medalist in Mexico 1975 in the 4 by 400 meters relay.

She was born in the municipality of Jatibonico, province of Camaguey now Sancti Spíritus, daughter of Pedro Pentón Madrigal and Paula Conde Marín, grew up in the bosom of a humble family.

She had never thought about sports and her life in Jatibonico alongside her family members did not allow her anything more than to dream of bettering herself and escaping poverty; that is why in every house where she was hired to clean floors, she made time to read or review the things that school had denied her. Sometimes she felt disappointed when she was promised that in addition to dusting and mopping they would help her with her books, but it was nothing more than promises, because reality hit differently on the young woman and housework multiplied, nonetheless she was able to enroll in the María Montejo school in her hometown demonstrating from a very young age a great predilection for walks and races.

In that year 1961 the call of the revolution surprised her for those who wanted to participate in literacy campaigns, and she thought "Even if I don't know much about books, at least I can teach the first letters to the peasants...." She went to Campechuela, Oriente and later to Ceiba Hueca, where she works with tenacity and manages to teach literacy to four peasants, in addition to helping with field work; her dedication and work proved outstanding in all respects.

In 1962 she moves to the capital and enters the Technological School "Julián Grimau". There she makes a great effort to pass the leveling course and achieve reaching the first year.

One afternoon while she was with a group of classmates from the aforementioned school, some jokingly told her if she was willing to run with other students in the speed event, she without thinking twice, accepted that nice challenge... and what would not be the astonishment of those gathered when the friendly scholarship student from Jatibonico left behind the "sprinters" from the technical school to achieve an indisputable first place.

Precisely in this educational center is where she begins her sports career, excelling in the one hundred and two hundred meter dash, then she goes on to study in Cienfuegos at another technical school, later continues studying at the ESEF "Comandante Fajardo" in Havana City obtaining for her dedication, discipline and perseverance the UJC card.

Around that time, the member of the national athletics commission, Hilario Villar, was responsible for teaching Physical Education and Sports classes at said school and observed in Aurelia conditions and material to become a great figure, so she begins to be part of the national team.

Her career trajectory within Team Cuba and her best results
Aurelia Pentón becomes the speed champion among EPEF students, which makes her worthy of a position in the national team so that in 1966, years of glory and triumphs for Cuban sports, she is part of the historic "Cerro Pelado" delegation where she participates in the final of 200 meters flat of the X Central American and Caribbean Games, held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, reaching sixth place in her first international event.

Upon her return, instructors Jesús Farrés and Blas Beato begin working with her in the specialty of 400 and 800 meters flat. A few months later at the sixth International Athletics Festival, Pentón sets the national record for the 400 meter distance at 59.4 seconds.

On May 5, 1967, the First Central American and Caribbean Championship was held in Jalapa, Mexico, Aurelia participated in the 400m and in addition to winning, lowered by two seconds the previous mark that she had precisely set. The stopwatches stopped at 57.4 seconds. The next day she entered the 800 meter flat race and without prior experience she annexed the victory with a time of 2.24.1 minutes, a time that constituted a new national record.

The impressive rise of this great athlete does not stop. In the summer of 1967 she travels to Romania and again surpasses her previous performance for the 400 and 800 meters stopping the hands of the clock at 55.9 seconds and 2.21.0 minutes respectively. 1967 constitutes a great challenge for Aurelia Pentón since having ventured into the 400 and 800 she would have before her the V Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada. She runs in the 800 meters flat setting the Cuban record at 2.17.9 minutes in the preliminaries and 2.15.4 minutes in the final finishing in an honorable sixth place. Upon her return she obtains another of her most precious awards: graduating as a Professor of Physical Education.

Year 1968 together with the joy of becoming a Bachelor in Physical Education at the Superior School Comandante Manuel Fajardo (ESEF) in Havana, is also the year of her definitive consecration where she joins the Cuban delegation to the XIX Olympic Games in Mexico. On the Tartan track located in the Olympic Village "Libertador Manuel Hidalgo", Yeya participated in 100 and 200 meters respectively, while in 400 meters she set the first place at 53.3 seconds. During these games, in the first heat of 400m and as a result of a colossal race she registered 52.86 seconds, a new national record to finish in first place among the eight runners who participated in that heat. Later she qualifies for the final, becoming the first Latina to achieve this high honor, in which she obtains a fifth place decreasing the time by a tenth (52.76) remaining only five tenths from the bronze medal. A highly significant feat and rarely seen in the annals of the sport of kings was achieved by Aurelia Pentón and that was lowering in less than two years 7 seconds! her record in 400m something truly fabulous and uncommon.

In the period of 1969 she made a tour of the Old Continent as preparation for the Central American and Caribbean Games in Panama. In this competition the gazelle of the tracks returns to the island with several gold medals. During the Centercaribbean Games held in isthmus territory in 1970 she occupies 2nd place in 400m with a time of 54.3 seconds behind Carmen Trusté also Cuban who did 52.5 seconds and 4th place in the 800m behind Panamanian Rosalía Abadía who consequently occupied third place.

In 1971 she participates in the XI Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, where after recovering from an injury at 30 years of age and with that kind of will and heart that characterizes our athletes, she managed to obtain second place in the 4X400m relay along with Beatriz Castillo, Marcela Chivás and Carmen Trusté, which made a time of 3.34.0 minutes behind the USA quartet; she also participates in the 400 meters flat and with that courage that characterized her reaches a meritorious 4th place with a time of 56.3 seconds. As preparation for the XX Olympic Games in Munich, on August 18, 1972 in Warsaw, Poland, she stops the stopwatches at 51.9 seconds, for a new national record. Just 3 days before the opening of the Olympic Games in the GFR, "Yeya" joins for the second time our delegation to an Olympiad and there obtains a tenth place in the 400m with 52.02 seconds.

In 1974 she attends the XII Centercaribbean Games held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. There the exemplary athlete obtains first place in the 400m with a time of 52.27 seconds. It should be noted that in these events Cuba made the one-two-three through Pentón, Carmen Trusté and Asunción Acosta. At the same games the stellar runner from Jatibonico also participates in the 800m where she became Central American Runner-up, with a time of 2.05.43 minutes.

She participates during 1975 in her third Pan American Games held in Mexico City, and there our courageous athlete makes her presence only in the 4X400m relay where she had to close the same; and in a sensational race she reaches the bronze medal, establishing a new Cuban record of 3.31.65 minutes, along with Ela Cabreja, Asunción Acosta and Regla López. Because after having felt the pleasure of being a mother, her coaches decided not to enter her in the 400 or in the 800m.

BEST ATHLETES OF THE YEAR 1977
In 1977 she was designated the Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year in the province of Sancti Spíritus.

The preparation for the Central American and Caribbean Games in Medellín 1978 was very intense, where the national preselection ventured on European tracks and Aurelia Pentón caused amazement, conquering first places in 400m events at Crystal Palace in London, Zurich, Nice, Brussels and Ostrava. In Zurich she set out to run the 1500m where she imposed a national record for the event; also on this preparatory tour on May 12, 1978 in the city of Kingston, Jamaica, Aurelia equals the national record in 400m set by her 6 years ago with a time of 51.9 seconds.

At age 37 she participates in the XXVII edition of the International Tournament "Memorial Barrientos" which took place in the historic city of Santiago de Cuba where in a marvelous defiance of her age she set national records in the 400 and 800m with 51.15 seconds and 2.04.95 minutes respectively, being the most outstanding figure of the event, an honor she shared with Alberto Juantorena, claiming the trophy awarded by Bohemia magazine.

In attending the XIII Central American Games in Medellín, Colombia, Aurelia attended for the fourth time games of that nature. In the previous ones she had reached one gold medal and two silver medals, so these games meant her ultimate test. Still fresh were the triumphs in Europe so she was in her best physical form. As the athletic events unfolded it became evident that also the female branch of the sport of kings had there an excellent runner, who if she did not bring the endorsement of victories as spectacular as the "Elegant of the Tracks" Alberto Juantorena, she came willing to give the Colombians a memorable performance. That was Aurelia Pentón. The first semifinal heat corresponding to the 400m was won by her with a discreet time of 52.99 seconds, which made her worthy of participating in the final where from the moment of the start the veteran runner took the lead and with firm, elegant steps, paraded the distance in a record time of 50.56 seconds, which constituted a new Central American record achieving her first gold medal at the games. The next day the 800m would be run where she again triumphed without difficulty in her semifinal heat. The time she achieved, 2.12.10 minutes, in comparison with the one she achieved in the final test, shows that she knew how to manage her energy for the crucial moment. When the starting shot was heard the stellar athlete increased the pace of the race and moved away from the group as the crowd stood up and gave her an ovation long before she reached the finish line. She had achieved her second gold medal and also her second Central American record with 2.01.38 minutes.

Only the 4X400m relay was left and "Yeya" would have the responsibility of closing the quartet made up of Ana Luisa Guibert, Ana Fidelia Quirot, (debuting at just 15 years old) and Beatriz Castillo. The public that had enjoyed Aurelia's two finals waited for the final relay handoff to stand up and encourage her with applause beyond the finish line; the race went as expected where the girl from Jatibonico again electrified the crowd entering like a bolt at the final line to secure her third gold medal and establish her third Central American record of 3.31.34 minutes with an advantage of 10.35 seconds over the Jamaica quartet. After the race Polish runner Irena Zewinska, considered the best in the world at that time, said: "Yeya", you at 37 years old and with a son just like me, are the best among the best.

In July of that same year Havana hosts the XI World Festival of Youth and Students and there were many sports activities scheduled within such a great event. One of them was athletics capturing the attention of all spectators developed at the Pedro Marrero stadium, where in the presence of our Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, our beloved "Yeya" made a superhuman effort to satisfy the public and ran in two events the same night winning glory in the 400 and 800m tests with times of 51.76 seconds and 2.05.39 minutes, to result together with another stellar Cuban Silvia Chivás, undisputed winner in 100 and 200m, the only two athletes who became champions twice on that day.

1978 Within the activities scheduled at this festival was held the delivery of the highest honors awarded by the Central Committee of the Leninist Youth of the Soviet Union to outstanding sports workers and decorated Cuban athletes; and among these, to the pride of Jatibonico, Aurelia Pentón received it as an outstanding athlete in 400 and 800 meters flat.

1979 The VIII Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, meant her last competitions, there she was a finalist in 400 and 800m and won her last medal in a continental event (silver) as a member of the Cuban 4X400m team along with the stellar Ana Luisa Guibert, Ana Fidelia Quirot and Nery McKeen, who achieved a time of 3.36.3 minutes and individual bronze in the 800m with a time of 2.02.1 minutes performing an extraordinary race.

Retirement
In 1980, during the celebration of the international athletics tournament José Barrientos held at the Pedro Marrero stadium, our glory announces her active retirement from the tracks to say goodbye to us, which was not a goodbye but a simple and affectionate embrace given to her by José Ramón Fernández Vice President of the Council of Ministers and President of the Cuban Olympic Committee (COC), as a faithful tribute of an entire people that admired her inside and outside the tracks for her impeccable conduct and exemplary discipline.

Her history in the sport of kings and her meritorious tenure is an example for new generations. During that same year the national propaganda directorate on behalf of all sports historians of our country delivered to "Yeya" a precious trophy as a permanent symbol of recognition for her clean and fruitful trajectory, which reaches higher dimensions as a member of the PCC and for the distinctions she received, such as: - The Order "Marcelo Salado" - The Medal "XX Anniversary"

After her retirement she began as a trainer at the Pontón located in Old Havana, while in this position she participated as an invited guest at the National Athletics Meeting that was held on May 2 and 3, 1980 at the "Marcelo Salado" Swimming School located at First and 36, Miramar, Havana City.

In 1981 she joined the Honorary Committee of the XIV Central American Games which were held in Havana in 1982. We should also note that she had the highest honor of being elected deputy to the National Assembly from 1981 to 1985.

In 1982 she was designated trainer of a FAR Academy team carrying out that work in front of the Naval Hospital of East Havana until 1985 when she moved to the National ESPA as a trainer. At this prestigious high performance center she also carried out educational work with the athletes, where due to her perseverance, teaching and multiple knowledge, she helped in the formation of several athletes who later became illustrious figures of world athletics such as Ana Fidelia Quirot to name just one example.

Being a trainer of the Cuba preselection she was elected as a Member of the Cuban Olympic Committee (COC) and its Executive Committee from 1993 to 2005. In 1998 at an event held at the Combined White Papers "Panchito Gómez Toro" on the occasion of the liberation of Jatibonico, her hometown, she was declared a Human Symbol of her municipality along with two sports glories of the locality: Genaro Melero Batista (Baseball) and Vicente Santiago García (Football), both deceased.

As a culmination to her brilliant sports career, in 1999 through a survey conducted by the Municipal Commission of Sports History, they elected her as the sportswoman of the century in Jatibonico.

She decided to retire in 2002 to return to her hometown Jatibonico and continue linked to the sports movement, since she participates as an invited guest in all the competitions and activities carried out by INDER, and is part of the Circle of Grandparents "Lebrije, Firmness and Confidence" where in addition to doing physical exercises, she participates in different social, political and recreational activities. She also connects to the Sports Club "Vicente Santiago García" along with other women providing support to football players and continuing her connection with sports.

Results in International Events

CENTRAL AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN GAMES
YEAR EVENT PLACE RESULT TIME
1966 200m Puerto Rico 6th -----
1970 400m Panama Silver 54.3seg.
1970 800m Panama 4th -----
1974 400m Dominican Republic GOLD 52.27seg
1974 800m Dominican Republic Silver 2.05.43min
1978 400m Colombia GOLD 50.56seg.
1978 800m Colombia GOLD 2.01.38min
1978 4x400m Colombia GOLD 3.31.34min

CENTRAL AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
YEAR EVENT PLACE RESULT
1967 400m Jalapa GOLD
1967 800m Jalapa GOLD
1971 4x400m Kingston GOLD
1973 400m Maracaibo GOLD
1973 4x400m Maracaibo GOLD
1979 4x400m Jalapa GOLD

PAN AMERICAN GAMES
YEAR EVENT PLACE RESULT TIME
1967 800m Canada 6th 2.15.4min
1971 400m Colombia 4th 53.6seg.
1971 4x400m Colombia Silver 3.34.0min
1975 4x400m Mexico Bronze 3.31.65min
1979 800m Puerto Rico Bronze 2.02.1min
1979 4x400m Puerto Rico Silver 3.36.3min

OLYMPIC GAMES
YEAR EVENT PLACE RESULT TIME
1968 400m Mexico 5th 52.75seg
1972 400m GFR 10th 52.02seg.

Record Chronology

CHRONOLOGY OF CUBAN RECORD 400M (ELECTRONIC)
TIME PLACE DATE
52.86seg Mexico City 10-14-68
52.75seg Mexico City 10-16-68
52.02seg Munich 09-03-78
51.90seg Kingston 05-12-78
51.15seg Santiago de Cuba 05-20-78
51.12seg Bratislava 06-09-78
50.56seg Medellín 07-16-78
Note: Record that took 8 years to be broken by Ana Fidelia Quirot on June 14, 1986 in Havana with a time of 50.41seg.

CHRONOLOGY OF CUBAN RECORD 800M (ELECTRONIC)
TIME PLACE DATE
2.24.1min Jalapa 05-07-67
2.21.0min Bucharest 06-12-67
2.17.9min Winnipeg 08-04-67
2.15.4min Winnipeg 08-05-67
2.10.6min Havana 11-02-68
2.05.8min Panama 02-03-74
2.05.43min Santo Domingo 03-11-74
2.04.39min Kingston 05-13-77
2.01.38min. Medellín 07-18-78
Note: Record that took 7 years to be broken by Ana Fidelia Quirot on March 24, 1985 in Havana with a time of 2.01.23 minutes.

As a curiosity:
The time achieved by Aurelia Pentón on 07-18-78 of 2.01.38 minutes in Medellín is superior to that achieved by the winner Rosemary Almanza (OTL) in the V Olympiad of Cuban Sports in this specialty who achieved 2:04.57 minutes after 32 years. (05-23-2010).

CHRONOLOGY OF CUBAN RECORD 4X400M (ELECTRONIC)
TIME PLACE DATE
3.59.6 min Havana 04-25-70
3.52.5 min Havana 05-23-71
3.38.6 min Kingston 07-17-71
3.34.02 min Cali 08-05-71
3.33.2 min Warsaw 08-10-72
3.32.4min Munich 09-09-72
3.31.65 min Mexico City 10-20-75
3.31.34min. Medellín 07-20-78

Social Chronology

SOCIAL CHRONOLOGY
YEAR ACTIVITY
1961 Literacy campaign.
1968 Bachelor in Physical Education from the ESEF "Comandante Manuel Fajardo" in Havana.
1980 Receives the Order "Marcelo Salado"
1980 Receives the Medal XX Anniversary.
1981 Joins the Honorary Committee of the XIV Central American Games along with our Commander in Chief and other leaders of the Revolution and former athletes.
1981- 1985 Deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power.
1993- 2005 Member of the Cuban Olympic Committee and its Executive Committee.
1998 Declared a Human Symbol of the municipality of Jatibonico.