La Habana CUB - Guillermo Martinez threw the javelin to a season world leading 85.02, while Yargelis Savigne won the Long and Triple Jumps and Yumileidi Cumbá and Osleidys Menéndez retained their crows at the 2006 Cuban National Olympics, held from Thursday to Saturday (May 4-6) at the Estadio Panamericano in Havana.

Two other Cuban stars, Yoandri Betanzos lost on home soil for the first time since 2001, and Víctor Moya could not overcome a pain in his right knee and went home without medals.

Athletes from Canada, Mexico and Venezuela also claimed medals and broke some national senior and junior records.

Martínez sets personal best and world leading 85.02 in the Javelin

2005 Helsinki World Championships finalist Guillermo Martínez was in command of the Javelin contest from the very first round (78.70) and stayed around 78-79m in the next four attempts (78.22, 79.44 X 79.04).

He then released the 800g implement to a far 85.02, nearly a meter better than his previous best (84.06), from last year. It is also the farthest effort in the world so far this year.

Isbel Luaces (75.00) and Emeterio González (74.65) were second and third, respectively.

“The start of the competition was delayed and I felt a bit tired in the first rounds. Mi coach (Miguel Bernal) encouraged me from the stands and I gave it all in the last throw. I really enjoy what I do. I want to claim my first international title this year at the CAC Games, represent the Americas at the World Cup and get closer to the national record (87.12). My ultimate goal is to reach 90 meters”, said the 24-year old from Camaguey, who is currently placed 8th in the IAAF World Rankings.

In the women’s Javelin, held around noon on Saturday, World and Olympic champion and world record holder Osleidys Menéndez prevailed with 63.33

In her fourth outing of the year, Menéndez opened her series with 63.10, followed by 60.89, 61.17, 63.33 and two fouls.

“The sun was very strong. I have never trained or competed at noon. The body is not used to that. I wanted to win and I did. I could not break the event record (65.85), but that’s OK. My arm is in great form, but I have to be cautious about a slight pain in the tibia of my left knew. I hope to throw far this year”, stated Menéndez, who already shows the world’s best throw this year, from her winning 65.02 at the Janet Memorial in Santiago de Cuba, in February.

World and Olympic finalist Sonia Bisset was second in 60.65, ahead of Maria C. Alvarez (58.87).

Menéndez is scheduled to attend two IAAF meetings in Brazil, in May.

Savigne wins Triple and Long double

Yargelis Savigne, the 2005 World Championships silver medallist at the Triple Jump, did both the Long and the Triple over the weekend in Cuba for the first time and broke the championships records in both events.

On Thursday, the 21-year old landed at 6.52 in the Long Jump, better than her record of 6.41 from the 2004 National Olympics.

Two days later, she stayed consistent over 14 meters, including a best of 14.55, to claim her first national title at that event.

Using the speed and her technique to face the head wind, Savigne opened with 14.21 and then improved to 14.39 and 14.55. She followed with 13.00, 14.34 and 13.86.

“I am happy to stay consistent and that can take me to 15 meters. That’s my goal this year. I also want to reach seven meters in the Long Jump. I will do both events at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Colombia and eventually at the World Cup, too”, she said.

Savigne, a finalist at both the outdoor and indoor Worlds in both jumps, has already leaped 14.72 indoors and 14.60 out in 2006. She is expected to do the Long Jump at the Felix Sanchez Invitational in Santo Domingo, on May 14.

Betanzos upset by Copello in the Triple

Six-time world youth, junior and senior championships medallist Yoandri Betanzos impressed with his opening 17.33 in the Triple Jump, 30cm more than his championships record, but his younger rival Alexis Copello reacted with a personal best of 17.38 to beat him for the first time.

That was Betanzos´ first home loss since his junior ages in 2001.

“I am in great form and was able to do a good jump. Beating Betanzos means that I can also compete well with the world’s best triple jumpers”, said 20-year old Copello, who has jumped over 17 meters in all his outings this season.

Fourth at the CAC Champs in Nassau 2005 in his international debut, he was third at the Grand Prix Orange in Guadeloupe, on May 1.

“I opened with 17.33 and Copello answered with 17.38. I tried to jump longer, but things do not always come out your way. I did not expect to jump that well in the National Olympics, with a 13-step run-up. I am bound to Brazil to meet Jadel Gregorio. It is him or me for the World Cup”, Betanzos affirmed.

Pan American junior and former world youth champion Dennis Fernández was

third in 16.70, ahead of Yoelbi Quesada (16.50) and Osniel Tosca (16.38).

In the men’s Long Jump, Ibrahím Camejo won in 7.87, followed by nine-time world and 2000 Olympic champion Ivan Pedroso, with his longest leap this year (7.77).

Moya in pain finishes fourth

World Championships silver medallist Victor Moya has not fully recovered from a pain in his right knee, He skipped the Caribbean tour of Martinique and Guadeloupe, but could not jump 2.24 and was out of the podium in Havana.

“My right knee still hurts. It is my takeoff leg. I am not worried. I will focus on recovery and I will be soon be back in form”, explained Moya.

The High Jump gold went to another Cuban, Yunier Carrillo (2.21), in his first outing of 2006. He beat Canada’s Kwaku Boateng and Venezuela’s Albert Bravo, all with the same height.

Moya cleared 2.18, passed 2.21 and failed over 2.24 and 2.26. Bravo broke the Venezuela junior record by 4cm.

Bravos´ teammate, 2005 World Youth Championships silver medallist Keisa Monterola was unlucky in the Pole Vault as she failed to clear 4.00 in her opening height.

Cumbá and Crawford also Excel

Confirming their good from 2004 Olympic medallist Yumileidi Cumbá (gold) and Yunaika Crawford (bronze) confirmed their good early season form with convincing winning marks in their respective events.

Cumbá won the Shot Put in 19.28 while Olympic finalist Misleidis González returned to competition with 17.85, after recovering from a serious injury.

With Yipsi Moreno out, following a different training plan after overcoming injury, Yunaika Crawford took the Hammer to 70.05.

Robles 13.46, Pernía 56.90 and Zulia second in the 1.500m

Dayron Robles, a World Indoor Championships silver medallist last winter in Moscow, prevailed in the 110m hurdles with 13.46 seconds, closely followed by Yoel Hernández (13.56). Anier Garcia is back to training after injury, but is not fully fit to race.

Daimí Pernía continued a successful comeback and ran the 400m hurdles to win in 56.90. Her training partner,2005 World 800m champion Zulia Calatayud was second in the 1.500m with 4:23.52, behind Yuneisi Santiusti (4:20.57).

Canada’s Lemlen Bereket Ogbasil (4:27.84).

“I am OK with running 1.500m in Cuba, but I am ready to run 800m or 400m”, stated Zulia, who ran 2:01 and 2:00 minutes solo with a-30 minutes pause last week.

Calatayud and Pernía, who an in the winning 4x400m relay team, are scheduled to run 400m at the Ana Guevara’s Gala Banamex in Veracruz, Mexico, next Saturday.

Toledo leads foreign wins

Sprinter Juan Pedro Toledo, the two-time Central American and Caribbean Games 200m champion, led the Mexican squad, who totalled eight medals, including three gold.

Toledo, back in Cuba for the first time since 1998, won the 200m in 21.05.

“I have trained with Cuban coaches in the last 10 years so it is very motivating to come race here. I am getting close to my best form and I want to break my national record (20.40) this season and retain my CAC Games title”, said the Olympic semi-finalist.

Other Mexican winners were Isaías Haro in the 5.000m and Angélica Sánchez, a 2:32-hour marathoner, who broke the national 3000m steeplechase record with 10:26.1.

Cumbá, Anier Garcia, Crawford and Moreno awarded the Olympic pin

Four of the six Cuban medallists from the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Yumileidi Cumbá, Anier García, Yunaika Crawford and Yipsi Moreno, were presented with the Olympic pin by Cuban Olympic Committee president José Ramón Fernández, Cuban Sports Minister Christian Jiménez and National Athletics Federation chairman Alberto Juantorena.

During the closing ceremony of the National Olympics, Cuban president Fidel Castro presented former sprinter Enrique Figuerola, the first Cuban Olympic medallist in athletics (silver at 100m in Tokyo 1964), with the Olympic Order.

The Cuban National Olympics, held April 23-May 6, drew over 3.000 athletes from 20 countries in 38 official and four exhibition sports.

Athletics awarded the first medals, with Aguelmis Rojas and Mariela González winning the 20km race on April 23.

2006 Cuban National Olympics winners

They are Cubans, except when specified:

Men:

100m Henry Vizcaíno 10.46 (+0.2)

200m Juan P. Toledo MEX 21.05 (0.0)

400m Yerman Lopez 45.90

800m Andy Núñez (Jr) 1:48.85 CR

1.500m Maury S. Castillo 3:45.5

5.000m Isaías Haro MEX 14:14.97 CR

10.000m Norbert Gutiérrez 30:05.72 CR

20km Aguelmis Rojas 1:01:21 NR CR

110 m H Dayron Robles 13.46 (+1.5)

400m H Sergio Hierrezuelo 50.27

3.000m ST Jose A. Sánchez 8:52.98

HJ Yunier Carrillo 2.21

PV Lázaro Borges 5.20 CR

LJ Ibrahím Camejo 7.87 (+0.1)

TJ Alexis Copello 17.38 (+1.0) CR

SP Alexis Paumier 18.60

DT Yunior Lastre 55.61

HT Yosvani Suárez 73.93 CR

JT Guillermo Martínez 85.02 CR

Dec Alexis Chivás 7617 (11.18-7.20-15.00-1.95-53.44/14.78-50.52-4.00-61.97-4:56.37)

4x100m Occidentales 41.39

4x400m Orientales 3:10.60

20km Walk Yubraile Hernández 1:28:30

Women:

100m Roxana Díaz 11.43 (+4.3)

200m Roxana Díaz 23.53 (-0.2)

400m Indira Terrero 53.72

800m Yuneisi Santiusti 2:05.35

1.500m Yuneisi Santiusti 4:20.57

5.000m Yudileisis Castillo 16:32.11 CR

10.000m Yudileisis Castillo 34:03.56 CR

20km Mariela González 1:10:48 NR CR

100m H Anay Tejeda 13.17 (+1.0)

400m H Daimí Pernía 56.90

3.000m ST Angélica Sánchez MEX 10:26.1 NR CR

HJ Yarianny Arguelles 1.82

PV: Maryoris Sánchez 4.00 CR

LJ: Yargelis Savigne 6.52 (+1.2) CR

TJ Yargelis Savigne 14.55 (-1.7) CR

SP Yumileidi Cumbá 19.28

DT Yania Ferrales 59.78

HT Yunaika Crawford 70.05

JT Osleidys Menéndez 63.33

Hep Gretchen Quintana 5862 CR (14.05-1.66-12.74-23.9/6.17-36.25-2:13.79)

4x100 Centrales 44.46

4x400 Occidentales 3:36.04

20km Walk Yarelis Sánchez 1:42:16

Full results can be found at http://www.olimpiadacubana.cu/2006/ProgramaXDeport.aspx?d=Atletismo