Cuban Jorge Hodelín set a new world junior record in the long jump this Saturday, reaching 8.46 meters at the Envol Trophée Meeting in France.
The 19-year-old achieved the mark on his second attempt, making him the clear winner of the competition. His other jumps (8.06 and 8.07 meters) also demonstrated his excellent form, and he committed only one foul.
The feat by the athlete from Sancti Spíritus, who broke his personal best of 8.34 meters (the previous national junior record) by 12 centimeters, is a remarkable achievement. The world record in this category belonged to Italian Mattia Furlani, who reached 8.38 meters in 2024.
This 8.46-meter jump also ranks among the best of the current season, placing him third alongside Portugal's Gerson Baldé in a ranking led by Switzerland's Simon Ehammer with 8.51 meters, followed by Greece's Miltiadis Tentoglou (8.49 meters).
To put Hodelín's feat into perspective, this jump is the fourth-best mark ever recorded in Cuba, tied with that of Ibrahim Camejo. The leaders in this ranking are Iván Pedroso (8.71 meters), Juan Miguel Echevarría (8.68 meters), and Jaime Jefferson (8.53 meters).
And that's precisely what Hodelín aspires to be, as he confessed to us in an interview conducted just under a year ago. Beyond any comparison, the truth is that we are witnessing a young man who, if injuries don't keep him healthy, promises a brilliant career.
Incidentally, June seems to be his favorite month, as it was precisely in June, back in 2025, that he leaped 8.34 meters at the National Youth Championships. At that time, that was his personal best and a national youth record.
CUBANS MAKE A STANDOUT IN EUROPE
Daily Cooper and Aslín Quiala achieved outstanding results this weekend in various athletics competitions across Europe.
Cooper reaffirmed her talent in middle-distance running, winning the 800 meters with another sub-two-minute time. This Saturday, she won the Spanish Club Championship with a time of 1:59.15, a competition record. She was joined on the podium by Andrea Rodríguez (2:00.72) and Havana Kofi (2:04.84).
Meanwhile, Quiala took third place in the pole vault, clearing 4.06 meters, her best mark of the year. The holder of a personal best of 4.41 meters, achieved in 2014, is just beginning her journey on the European outdoor circuit, so she will need to find her rhythm as the competitions progress.
Likewise, another long jumper, Aniel Molina, was scheduled to participate in the Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria.
