Havana, May 13 (RHC)-- Omara Durand's title in the 100 meters and Guillermo Varona's silver medal in the javelin put Cuba on the medal table of the Jesolo 2023 Parathletics Grand Prix in Italy on Friday.
The event, penultimate of the international circuit organized by the World Parathletics this year, hosted the debut of the multi-champion Omara in the shortest distance of the sprint.
Omara (T12) clocked 12.11 seconds to win a competition held in several heats.... "Her first 100 meters of the season, for me the result is very good. I'm sure she will improve with each race," her coach Miriam Ferrer told JIT, who recalled that an indisposition prevented her from making her debut in the hectometer during the previous phase held in Xalapa, Mexico.
Behind the eight-time Paralympic queen this time were Azerbaijan's Lamiya Valiyeva (12.45 seconds) and Ireland's Orla Comerford (12.47).
On the same day Omara also competed in the 400 meters, but was disqualified for a false start, which does not worry the experienced trainer.
"On Sunday we will run the 200 meters and I confirm that everything is fine", stressed Miriam about her student, who has a season's best time of 23.90 seconds in this distance, which guaranteed her success in the Mexican stop.
Accompanied by her guide Yuniol Kindelán, she had previously clocked 24.96 seconds in the Dubai phase and 24.17 in the Marrakech phase, so on Mexican soil she confirmed the progression of her fitness ahead of the first fundamental event of the year: the Paris 2023 World Parathlon Championships, scheduled for July.
In the Armando Picchi stadium, in the Italian city, javelinist Varona also showed class with a 60.31 meters throw, which was enough to finish second among men in the F46 category.
Winner of the gold medal at the Parapan American Games of Lima 2019, the Cuban added another podium after leading in Xalapa with a 60.90-meter throw.
Mexico's Gabriel Buenaventura, silver medalist in that segment, won now with 61.55 meters. The bronze was won by Japan's Takahashi Shunya (51.55).
Today, Noraivis de las Heras (F44) will compete for Cuba in the shot put. On Sunday, Felipa Hechavarría (T46) and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion Robiel Yankiel Sol (T46) will compete in the long jump.
