Cuban 110m hurdler Herrera looks to shine today at ASU25

HAVANA, Cuba, Aug 21 (ACN) Cuban hurdler Yander Luis Herrera, 18, is emerging as the favorite in the 110-meter hurdles, which will have its semifinals today in the continuation of Athletics at the Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion.

His time of 13.37 seconds, achieved last June in Russia, is the best of all the participants in the event, in which he is chasing to break the junior Pan American record of 13.94 from the 1rst edition in Cali Valle.

"I've trained very well these days. I'm ready to give it my all in the competition," Herrera told the Cuban News Agency from the Paraguayan capital.

The Cuban will face his main rival in his elimination heat against Brazilian Jose Eduardo da Silva, who has a season-high time of 13.65, and could then face fellow Brazilian Thiago Dos Santos, who holds a personal best of 13.42, in the final.

Yander Luis Herrera, currently holding the eighth-best time in the U20 world championships, needs to clock 13.27 seconds to secure direct qualification for the World Championships in Tokyo.

Cuba also has a chance in the women's triple jump, with Ariday Giron (13.52 m) and Lidsay Gonzalez (13.44 m) among the best on the starting list.

In the men's high jump, Cubans Diosber Hernandez and Manuel Rodriguez share a personal best of 2.16 meters, the highest among all competitors.

The men's 4x100-meter relay, consisting of Reynaldo Espinosa, Yander Luis Herrera, Deyvi Amaury Rodriguez, and Giorvis Dominguez, will run from lane four, while the women's quartet, featuring Jocelyn Echazabal, Dianelys Alacan, and two more athletes yet to be confirmed, will run from lane three.