Nassau.- THE POSTS Cuban women competing in the Bahamas 2024 World Athletics Relay Championships were left without the possibility of accessing the podium, but this Sunday they will have the last opportunity to get the long-awaited Olympic tickets.
Being left out of the medal distribution did not represent a total surprise, given the complex challenge he assumed. None of the three teams arrived at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in their best shape to compete with powerful teams in search of a similar objective.
Although they will not be able to defend the reign they won three years ago in the 4×400 meters, Ricardo Molina’s students posted the best performance this Saturday with third place in their eliminatory series, behind the powerful quartets of Ireland (3:24.38) and the United Kingdom. United (3:24.89).
The time of 3:31.56 minutes set by the team of Melissa Padrón, Rose Mary Almanza, Lisneidy Veitia and Roxana Gómez was insufficient, but we were happy to appreciate the prominence assumed in the closing by the Cienfuegos native to show that they have the dream of competing within reach at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic finalist covered the last lap of the oval in 51.21 seconds, showing that she is heading towards a full recovery from the discomfort that has plagued her in recent months.
True to her discreet style, the southerner preferred that young Melissa be in charge of expressing confidence in the mixed zone that they are prepared to finish the task on Sunday.
On that path the Dutch will be the main obstacle, but it will be enough for them to escort them to the entrance to the finish line in the repechage series to secure space in the event under the five rings. With the same purpose, the representations of Kenya, Switzerland, Portugal and Botswana will start this race.
The men in the 4×100 meters also provided some hope with their record of 39.00 seconds that helped them anchor in fourth place in a series in which the Japanese and Chinese – in that order – fulfilled the role of favorites.
«We know we can do better and we dream of the ticket. I think we should be happy because the synchronization of the changes went well and above all because of the unity we have in the team,” commented Edel Amores, responsible for the second section, which he covered in 9.37 seconds.
Reinaldo Espinosa led the way, Yaniel Carrero completed the third segment and Shainer Reginfo was in charge of closing. That same order could be repeated in the play-off phase, in which they will face the teams from Brazil, the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland.
On the other hand, the saddest Cuban faces on the day were those of the girls in the 4×100 meters. They passed through the media area with pain and disappointment for not having been able to close the test, due to the failure between Yarima García and Yunisleidy García in the last change.
«It was not a fruitful day. We are going to talk about everything in detail, more calmly, to analyze what happened and tomorrow we will go out again to give everything as the champions that we are,” said Laura Moreira, who this time took over the start of the race.
With more or less chances of qualifying for Paris 2024, the Cuban runners will return to the Bahamian track with that goal in mind. They know it will be the last opportunity and none of them want to waste it.
RELAYS QUALIFIED FOR PARIS 2024
4X100 meters (f): United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Australia, Netherlands, Canada and France.
4×100 meters (m): United States, Japan, Canada, Italy, China, France, United Kingdom and Jamaica.
4×400 meters (f): Ireland, United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, Poland, Canada and France.
4×400 meters (m): Botswana, South Africa, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Italy, Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
4×400 meters (mixed): United States, Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Poland, Nigeria, Dominican Republic and France.
THE BEST OF THE DAY
– The Irish women’s relay took the national 4×400 meters record to 3:31.56 minutes, the best time of the qualifying heats.
– The French relays obtained Olympic tickets in four of the five specialties called.
– The United States took over the championship record in the mixed 4×400 meters event with a time of 3.11.53 minutes. The quartet from the Netherlands with the stellar Femke Bol in the formation closed with a time of 3:12.16.
– The Dominican Marisleidi Paulino starred in the most spectacular performance of the date with a superb finish that guaranteed her country Olympic qualification in the 4×400 meter mixed relay.
