Other Sports

Athletes from 14 nations register for Cuban athletics meet

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-05-22 09:35

HAVANA, May 21 -- Athletes and officials from 14 nations on Monday confirmed their participation in the Cuba-Barrientos Athletics Cup which runs from Thursday to Sunday in Havana's Pan-American Stadium, Jesus Molina, technical directors of the Cuban Athletics Federation said Monday.

The 14 nations are: Angola, Antigua, Algeria, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Guatemala, the United States, The Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.

Molina said the competition would be a great opportunity to see the island's best athletes in action as they prepare for the July 13 to July 29 Pan-American Games, now in their 15th edition, due in Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro.

Cuban Olympic champions javelinist Osleidys Menendez and shot put lead the 78 shortlisted competitors for the Rio competition.

Also listed are hammerthrower Yipsi Moreno, silver medallist at the 2004 Athens Games; Yoandri Betanzos and Yargelis Savigne, silver medallists in the triple jump at the Helsinki Games; Victor Moya, silver medallist in the high jump; and Dami Pernia, Ivan Pedroso and Anier Garcia, gold medallists at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the 400 meters hurders, long jump and 110 meter hurdles respectively.

Molina said the Barrientos competition is a rigorous test and will give the Cuban team indications who to choose for Rio, where they aim to beat their record set in the 2003 Santo Domingo Games: 10 gold medals, 10 silver and 10 bronze.