CUBA’S athletes had reason to celebrate on July 4, during the Meeting Areva, held in Saint-Denis, France, the fourth of eight stops on the Diamond League circuit.
800 meter runner Rose Mary Almanza and pole-vaulter Yarisley Silva, were the protagonists of a competition which also saw good performances by hurdler Yordan O´Farrill in a heat which didn’t count towards the final ranking of the league.
Almanza ratified the excellent moment after securing a new personal best, barely three days after achieving the same feat in the French city of Nancy.
According to the official event website, Almanza clocked 1:57.70 minutes, finishing in second place, only beaten by Kenyan world champion, Eunice Jepkoech Sum.
The young athlete, who will soon turn 23, increased her chances of securing the top spot at the Pan American Games in Toronto.
Silva, Olympic silver medalist, sent an important message to her fans after an exceptional performance; surpassing the 4.73 meter mark for the first time in the current season, winning her the silver medal.
First place went to Greece’s Nikoléta Kyriakopoúlou, registering the best score of the season with 4.83 meters, while third was occupied by former world champion Fabiana Murer, from Brazil, who reached 4.63m.
O´Farrill did well winning the 110 meters hurdles in 13.29 seconds, followed by Shane Brathwaite (13.31) from Barbados and Konstadínos Douvalídis (13.34) from Greece.
