Athletics starts today at First Junior Pan Am Games, Cali 2021

HAVANA, Cuba, Nov 30 (ACN) With the presence of 11 Cubans in competition, seven women and four men, athletics begins today at the First Junior Pan American Games hosted by Cali, Colombia.

For Cuba, Laura Moreira, in the 100 meters flat (m/p), Ariliannis Colas, in the 400 m hurdles, as well as Daily Cooper and Maria de Lourdes Calderin, in the 800 m/p, will make their debut on the track Tuesday.

Melany Matheus and Silinda Morales, in the discus throw, and long jumper Yanisley Carrion will also make their debut in the field events.

Likewise, among the men, the sprinter Jenns Fernandez will be in action in the hectometer, as well as Lazaro Rodriguez and Yoao Puentes, in the 400 m hurdles, along with Yancarlos Hernandez in the decathlon.

In that discipline, the Caribbean nation's group will be headed by the medalists in the World Youth Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, last August, Juan Carley Vazquez, winner of the title in the shot put.

The bronze medalists in that competition, Shainer Reginfo, who will run the 200 m/p, and Yiselena Ballar (javelin throw), will also compete.

Other well-known athletes such as long jumper Maikel Vidal, octagonist Li Cooper, discus thrower Matheus, pole vaulter Rosaidi Robles and triple jumper Leyanis Perez (leading the under-20 ranking with a national record of 14.53 meters), will be competing in search of the winners' podium.

These young people who will represent Cuba in athletics are part of the generational relay, and many of them will be in the Central Caribbean and continental competitions, in the adult category, in 2023.