Cycling

Cuban cyclist Marlies Mejias edged up-and-coming American rider Coryn Rivera in a bunch sprint to win the Pan-Am Continental Road Race Championship on Saturday.

Rivera took the silver medal ahead of another Cuban rider, Yumaris Gonzalez. The strong finish by the 22-year-old Rivera capped a successful weekend for the U.S. team in Mexico. Carmen Small won the gold medal in Friday's time trial, earning an automatic berth for the world championships in Richmond, Virginia, this September.

Small finished the road race with teammates Tayler Wiles and Lauren Hall back in the pack.

Pole-Vaulter

World indoor champion Yarisley Silva was happy to sit out the opening height, 4.10m, as the rain, cold and particularly the gusting wind disrupted the other four vaulters. It took 11 attempts for anyone to register a clearance, Germany’s Katharina Bauer succeeding with her 3rd attempt, while Italy’s Roberta Bruni and 2014 runner-up Kristina Gadschiew both bowed out but NCAA champion Melissa Gergel also nailed 4.10m at the final attempt. Gergel proceeded to clear 4.20m first time and was in the box seat until Silva succeeded at the 3rd time of asking.

Bauer failed with 1 shot at 4.30m after 2 blanks at 4.20m and Gergel also bowed out at 4.30m. Silva, who wore tights and a thermal top throughout, produced a Midas touch with her third attempt at 4.30m. That proved to be the clincher for the Cuban, who had the bar raised to 4.50m but without any joy.

“It was my first competition of the year and the conditions made it very difficult,” said Silva. “I was happy to be so close to the crown. It is a great competition, with all the music too. I would love to have a street event like this in Havana.”

Long Jump

Pedro Pablo Pichardo recently nailed his spikes at 17,94 meters crashing the 17,85 meters established by Yoelbi Quesada in August 8th, 1997; thus sets a new record in the long jump for men in the Pan-American Stadium.

The National record of triple jump for men was heading to its 20th year when Santiago de Cuba-born Pedro Pablo Pichardo ended its existence when last weekend marked his return to the track and field and the jump in his 3rd attempt was the best way to prove he is still a crack in this discipline.

JIT digital website reports that Pichardo, whose latest accomplishment include a 2nd place in Moscow 2013 and a bronze medal in the indoor world event in 2014, opened the records with 17,33 and 17,52 meters during the 6th competition of the national pre-selection of track and field preparing for the upcoming Pan-American Games in Toronto, July 2015.

Pope Exhorts Sportsmen to Avoid the Use of Prohibited Substances

Pope Francis exhorted today sportsmen to avoid the consumption of prohibited substances as to reach ''ugly and sterile'' victories, as resul of the doping.

Also he qualified of ugly victory obtained with 'foul plays, violating the norms and cheating others'.

According to the Pontiff, the sportsmen have a mission to fulfill, to be for all their admirers a model to be followed.

A way that also must be followed by sport leaders and trainers 'called to provide a good example of the human values' for being 'teachers of a sport practice that is always loyal and clean'.

Finally, he cheered each of the participants in the hearing to do their best in sport and also in the life to seek, this way, 'the good, the real good, without fear, with courage and enthusiasm'.