Savigne and Robles lead 31-member Cuban squad to Daegu – IAAF World Championships

Havana, Cuba  – Two-time Triple Jump defending champion Yargelis Savigne and Olympic gold medallist and 110m Hurdles World record holder Dayron Robles lead the 31-member Cuban squad for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Daegu, Korea, 27 August to 4 September.

Savigne, who leads the 2011 world lists after her 14.99m leap in Paris on 8 July, is aiming at her third consecutive world title, after claiming gold in Osaka 2007 and Berlin 2009. In the former, she set a still standing Area Record of 15.28m. If she wins in the Korean city, the 26-year old will become the first Cuban female athlete to claim three world crows. She is currently tied with Ana Fidelia Quirot (800m in 1995 and 1997) and Yipsi Moreno (Hammer in 2001 and 2003).

With Savigne defending champion, Cuba has registered three other women in the Triple Jump: 2009 silver medallist Mabel Gay, two-time World junior champion Dailenis Alcántara and 2009 World University Games gold medallist Yarianna Martínez.

Like Savigne, Robles is attending his fourth World Championships and will try to accomplish what no Cuban has achieved so far: the 110m World title.

The 2008 Beijing champion has had an almost impeccable campaign in the lead up to Daegu, including his best time of the year (13.04) at the London Samsung Diamond League meeting.

The 14-man and 17-woman squad also features 2009 Berlin runners-up Leonel Suarez (Decathlon), Guillermo Martinez (Javelin), and Yarelis Barrios (Discus), as well as bronze medallist Alexis Copello (Triple).

 

 

Cuban Team Roster:

MEN-

200m Michael Herrera

400m William Collazo

110m H Dayron Robles

400m H Omar Cisneros

High Jump Víctor Moya

Pole Vault Lázaro Borges      

Triple Jump Alexis Copello, Yoandri Betanzos, Arnie David Girat

Shot Put Carlos Véliz

Discus Jorge Fernández

Javelin Guillermo Martínez    

Decathlon Leonel Suárez and Yordani García

 

WOMEN –

100-200m Nelkis Casabona  

400m Aymée Martínez          

Pole Vault Yarisley Silva and Daylis Caballero        

Triple Jump Yargeris Savigne, Mabel Gay, Dailenis Alcántara and Yarianna Martínez      

Shot Put Misleydis González and Mailín Vargas      

Discus Yarelis Barrios and Denia Caballero  

Hammer Yipsi Moreno          

Javelin Yanet Cruz    

4x400m Daysurami Bonne, Susana Clement, Diosmely Peña, Aymée Martínez and Nelkis Casabona