Cuban gold in the 100 meters for Shaifer Rengifo at the Iberoamerican athletics championship!

May 21, 2022

Young Shainer Reginfo delivered the big surprise of the day for Cuba at the XIX Iberoamerican Athletics Championship and took home an unexpected gold medal in the men's 100 meters, a result that restores hope for Cuban sprinting.

The Cuban, bronze medalist at the last World Championship for under-20 athletes, now clocked a time of 10.15 seconds, the second fastest of his career, and gave Cuba the first title in the tournament hosted by the Spanish city of Alicante. Shainer came to this competition with a personal best of 10.11 seconds, also achieved this season.

After advancing to the final with another solid time of 10.27s, Reginfo demonstrated authority in the title race and crossed the finish line ahead of Brazilian Felipe Bardi (10.26s) and Argentine Franco Florio (10.31s). Our athlete's achievement is even greater considering he won with only a slight headwind of 0.1 meters per second.

At 20 years old, this is Reginfo's first major result among seniors, a feat that should open the doors to other tournaments that allow him to sustain his demonstrated progress. He also enters history as Cuba's third Iberoamerican champion in the 100 meters, an event where the Island has accumulated four silver medals and one bronze.

For his part, long jumper Maikel Massó's silver medal hours earlier initiated the medal count for Cuba in a tournament where ultimately the Greater Antilles competes with 16 competitors and which serves as the start of the summer tour for specialists in the sport of kings on the Island.

The Olympic bronze medalist from Tokyo 2020 took the Iberoamerican subtitle with a jump of 8.03m, the best of his young outdoor campaign. He achieved that mark in the fifth round to improve by one centimeter the 8.02m obtained in his second attempt.

In his remaining attempts Massó did not reach eight meters and recorded a competition with marks of 7.33m in the opening, 7.94m in the third attempt, 7.90m in the fourth and a poor finish with 7.46m.

In the end, the title went to local Eusebio Cáceres —fourth place at the Olympics— with 8.05m on his only valid jump. For his part, the bronze went to fellow Spaniard Héctor Santos, with 7.97m on his last jump to edge out Uruguayan Emiliano Lasa (7.96m).

Also competing in the event was Maikel Vidal, but his best jump of 7.89m on his first attempt barely earned him sixth place. After that mark the Caribbean athlete had four other valid attempts but failed to improve and climb positions. After a no-jump, Vidal registered 7.74m and 7.62m on his third and fourth tries, followed by 7.70m with excess tailwind and closed with modest 7.46m.

On this first date of the Iberoamerican athletics championship, young Yiselena Ballar finished in fourth place in the javelin throw with a mark of 56.14m, very close to her yearly record of 56.63m.

In her first international competition of the year and her debut in overseas tournaments among seniors, the 2021 youth world bronze medalist was in medal position until the last round, when she was displaced by Brazilian Jucilene Sales (57.86m).

In addition to her best mark achieved in the second round, after a first no-throw, Yiselena recorded a competition with other valid throws of 51.59m, then improved to 56.12m in the fourth round, but again dropped to 52.58m and 52.67m in her remaining attempts.

Gold went to Ecuadorian Juleysi Angulo, with a national record of 60.91m, while Colombian veteran Flor Ruiz took silver (60.52m).

In another event with Cuban participation, Roxana Gómez had no problems in her semifinal heat and with 51.68s entered third and advanced to the final. There she will face Dominican star Marileidys Paulino, Olympic silver medalist from Tokyo 2020 and impressive now with a time of 50.82s, the best among the eight finalists.

Meanwhile, in her first race of the year Zurian Hechavarría (56.63s) finished in second place in her heat and also secured a spot in the 400 meters hurdles final. In the event Puerto Rican Grace Juliette Claxton (55.91s) and Spaniard Sara Gallego (56.39s) recorded faster times than the Cuban Olympic semifinalist.

Finally, Daily Cooper entered first in her 800 meters heat, but then her disqualification was announced and she lost any chance to compete for a medal. Likewise, Eliani Casi (54.37s) finished last in her 400m heat and failed to advance, while heptathlete Adriana Rodríguez —now only entered in the long jump— did not record and was eliminated.

According to information published by the official website of the event, linked to the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation, Cuba initially registered 40 athletes to participate in the tournament. However, and without official information from the Cuban Athletics Federation, it appears visa problems prevented the participation of all those expected.