It was good to see that the progress of some is no coincidence.
While the main stars consolidate their steps in the summer tour of Europe, the fans followed at home the development of the Barrientos Memorial of Athletics 2025, marked by some good performances and the presence of guests from four nations.
It is true that the Pan American Stadium was the place to see the main stars, but also that some competitors left a pleasant impression, especially some of those who will represent the island at the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción 2025.
Two old records of the competition disappeared this time, beyond the registration of new personal bests, a sign of evolution in different events.
Osmairys González from Artemisia became a reference in the 3000m steeplechase after clocking 10:14.51 minutes, which erased from the books the 10:28.7 set by Yorlin Ocampo from Camagüey last year.
According to the statistics provided by Alfredo Sánchez, the previous record for the women’s 4×100m relay also disappeared, thanks to the combined performance of Lisyanet Ruiz, Yunisleidy de la Caridad García, Jocelyn Echazabal and Yarima García.
The quartet stopped the clocks in 43.27 seconds, thus pulverising the time of 43.81 with which the team formed by Eusebia Riquelme, Julia Duporty, Idalmis Bonne and Liliana Allen won in the now distant 1992.
Another of the events that left a good taste was the long jump for men, in which Aniel Molina, from Matanzas, took his personal best to 8.13 metres. His second on the podium, 18-year-old Jorge Odelín, from El Espiritu, also shone, who jumped 8.04 metres for the first time.
In the high jump, Dacsy Brisón dominated with 1.91 metres, surpassing her previous personal best by one centimetre, but above all reaffirming her stability and progression.
Reinaldo Espinosa, who was not at the Copa Cuba a week ago, claimed the 100m title with 10.16 seconds. However, what most caught the attention of the specialists was the performance of Giorvis Domínguez – also 18 years old – in third place with a personal best of 10.33.
He was also the fastest in the 200m, with a lifetime best of 21.17 seconds.
Other specialities, such as the men’s triple jump, went in the opposite direction, as although he came out on top, Andy Hechavarría was left in debt by only reaching 15.66 metres.
Melany Mateus (58.28m) and Mario Díaz (60.73m) were equally discreet in the discus throw, especially in view of the remarkable performances they had recently recorded.
Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic and Ecuador had representatives in the competition, which includes among its positive balances the effort of the organisers to maintain the sequence of celebration, without ignoring the margin of improvement that exist to improve each competition, and that need a deep analysis.
