Gold Medal for Omara Durand at Xalapa Grand Prix

May 1, 2023

Cuban Omara Durand achieved her best time of the season on Thursday in the 200 meters at the 2023 Xalapa Grand Prix of Paralympic Athletics, on Mexican soil.

The multi-champion Paralympic athlete in the T12 category (profound visual impairment) covered the distance in 23.90 seconds to give those present at Heriberto Jara Corona stadium her first time below 24 seconds so far this year.

Accompanied by her guide Yuniol Kindelán, the Santiago native had run the preliminary segment in 24.31 seconds, as an indication that she was in a position to seek a good time in her next performance. Dominicans Darlenys de la Cruz (25.03) and Manuela Jacinto (27.51) joined her on the podium, in that order.

Her coach, the experienced Miriam Ferrer, commented from the event venue that everything went according to plan because her student followed the designed strategy and improving her times — following her performances in Dubai (24.96) and Marrakech (24.17) — confirms a successful return to the track.

Omara took 2022 to recharge her energy and spend more time with her family. Later she began preparing for the road to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, announced as her last competitive venture.

Cuba also had representation on Thursday in the field through throwers Yorisan Monterrey (discus-F43) and Gerdan Fonseca (javelin-F57).

A silver medal rewarded Yorisan after recording 39.40 meters, only surpassed by Colombian Nelson Blandon's 48.39. Host José Luis Estrada achieved 38.66 meters to claim the bronze medal.

Gerdan threw the javelin 39.70 meters from his first attempt and that secured him a spot on the podium, behind champion Edgar Barajas (42.35) and runner-up Luis Alberto Gomeztagle (41.87), both home representatives.

Felipa Hechavarría reached third place on the podium in the long jump, T46 category, with a record of 5.23 meters. Gold went to Ecuadorian Kiara Rodríguez (5.88) and silver to American Taleah Williams (5.43).

This Friday attention will turn back to Omara, who shortly after noon will be in the preliminaries of the 400 meters. For the evening her appearance in the direct final of the 100 meters is scheduled.

That will be her debut in the 100 meters during the current season and will serve to clear the path toward new titles at the 2023 Paris World Championship of Paralympic Athletics, set for next July, and at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games in November.

Also seeking to be among the medalists in the 100 meters will be Raciel González (T46). Leonardo Díaz (F56) will compete in the discus, Ever Castro (F41) in the javelin, and the Tokyo 2020 long jump champion Robiel Yankiel Sol (T46) will make his debut.

The native of the capital achieved a jump of 7.77 meters a few weeks ago, registered as a personal record, so it will be interesting to see if he can surpass it on Aztec soil.