Cuban Mejias ranks 12 in omnium after three events

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Aug 16 (acn) Cuban Marlies Mejías appears 12th after three of the six events of the women´s omnium contest, based on the new velodrome built for the 31st Olympic Games, in this city.

Mejias, 23, finished 12th in the Scratch to score 18 points, same figure of contestants attending this race held at Barra de Tijuca Olympic Park.
This first event was won by the experienced Belarusian Tatsiana Sharakova who earned 40 points, followed by Britain's Laura Trott (38) and Belgian Jolien D'Hoore (32).
In the 3000m individual pursuit, the Cuban athlete concluded eighth with time of (3: 34,034 minutes) and climbed to ninth seat, with 44 units.
But in the third and final event of the day, elimination race, Mejias again proved she does not have much luck in group races, and finished last, and now totals 50 points after the first half of the contest.
The leader after these three events is the British Trott, Olympic and world champion, with 118 units, but she is closely followed by D'Hoore (110) and American Sarah Hammer (108).
Mejias, multiple medalist in Pan American and Central American and Caribbean Games, attended her first Olympics four years ago and finished eighth in the omnium contest.
The other three events, time trial, flying lap and the defining points race, will take place today.
Meanwhile, Lisandra Guerra, the other Cuban cyclist attending Rio 2016 Olympics, hid her sadness when being eliminated in keirin and sprint events, but said she still feels herself capable and willing to achieve new victories.
I'm strong, I'm still young at 28, and I feel eager and able to continue providing joy to my people and I do not think about retirement yet, she said.