Cuban Track and Field to Work for Recovering Lost Grounds
Havana – The Cuban national federation of track and field and its commission want to strengthen athletics in Cuba, and increase the results reached in the last years at the international arena, according to statements by the head of the Commission, Agustin Abril.
In an exclusive interview with Prensa Latina, Abril commented that there will be a continuity to the work made before, and they will emphasize on some aspects that have avoided the reach of better results in international competitions.
Abril said that they will work on the discipline for training for competitions, in the fulfilment of the participation for competitions and in the national growth for athletes with quality and conditions in the sport.
In this aspect, they want to empower the junior and children categories, to develop talents. That is why the National School Games will be considered as the main athletics event for Cuba in the year.
About the current season, he explained that the participation of athletes in the European tours, will be based on their personal records and results achieved in preparatory events like the Cuba Cup, to be held from March 14 to 17.
Abril also added that the Federation intends to include 110-meter hurdler Dayron Robles in the national pre-team. Robles, Olympic Champion of Beijing-2008, received permission at the end of last year for training at the national school, in Cuba.
The Cuban sport executive also expressed his satisfaction by the return of Robles, not only because of his proven quality and recognitions achieved in international competitions, but also because of the great experience he can bring, teaching the new generation of athletes after his experience as a professional.
Abril said, that Robles is now at the final stage for recocuperation from an injury, that sidelined him from competing with the Cuban Olympic team at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
The avangard of the Cuban athletics team for important competitions, is now formed by Robles, together with female pole vaulter Yarisley Silva, female discus throwers Denia Caballero and Yaimé Pérez, heptatlonist Yorgelis Rodríguez, male triple jumper Pedro Pablo Pichardo and male decatlonist Leonel Suárez.
Finally, he stated the short-term objective of the Cuban Athletics Federation is centered in contributing to the Cuban competing delegation with a greater number of titles and medals, to keep being the nation with the 1st place at the Central and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla (Colombia) in 2018.
