Lázaro Martínez and Cristian Nápoles won the first medals for the Cuban delegation at the World Athletics Championships, hosted by Budapest, capital of Hungary.
Both triple jumpers opened with fouls. Martinez in his second attempt registered 17.41 meters which took him to the top of the competition. He also marked a jump of 16.55, two fouls and a closing of 16.83.
Nápoles, meanwhile, with a jump of 17.02 meters remained in fourth place, until a valid attempt of 17.40 (personal best) put him on the podium.
With the one-two for the Cubans, in the fifth round the Burkinabe Hugues Fabrice Zango stamped 17.64, to take the crown and relegate Martinez and Napoles to silver and bronze medals, respectively.
In declarations to Eyleen Ríos, special reporter at the event, the world runner-up expressed that, "although I had a lot of rivalry, my concern was to focus on the competition and do what I always do".
He thanked his doctor for the recovery from the injury he had sustained during the Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, and said that "I went all out for that first jump, because I could not reserve myself, due to the disadvantage of the ankle problem". That is how he would face that last opportunity, when Zango took the top.
Napoles declared that he went for a medal, "because nothing is unattainable", and with the guidance of his coach he made the necessary adjustments to score, after the fouls of the first and third attempts.
Zurian Hechavarría could not advance to the semifinals of the 400 meter hurdles, a stage for the first four in each heat and the other four best times. The Cuban was sixth in her race, with a time of 56.43 seconds.
Roxana Gómez was at the gates of the final of the 400 meters, and placed 13th overall, with a time of 51.07 seconds.
