Cuban Triple Jumpers Take 2-3 at Ultimate Athletics Championship

With Davisleydi Velazco surpassing 15 meters and Leyanis Pérez once again posting a strong mark, Cuba reaffirmed its presence in the elite of the triple jump this Sunday during the closing day of the Ultimate Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary.

Given what had transpired during the season, rivalry was guaranteed in an event in which, besides Davisleydi and Leyanis, Cubans had to keep an eye on Liadagmis Povea, who faced the recent Diamond League queen, Senegal's Saly Sarr, and the Paris 2024 Olympic champion, the Dominican Republic's Thea Lafond.

Nothing that happened came as a surprise; there could have been several options for a winner considering the history of the past nine months, especially paying attention to Sarr, who is sharp when it comes to jumping farther than anyone from the first attempt.

The truth is that she did so now at the Gyula Zsivotzky stadium with 15.06 meters that no one else could surpass; it is striking that the 23-year-old girl, just one season ago, only reached a maximum of 14.55, and in this 2026 she has already surpassed 15 meters twice, in addition to other respectable marks.

Davisleydi, who once again wore Cuba's colors after several independent appearances, came very close to first place because the 15.04 meters achieved on her third attempt tasted like glory.

Just two centimeters separated her from the top spot in a competition that debuted to bring together the best athletes of the moment and that personally left her with the emotions of performing well while wearing the four-letter uniform again.

For Leyanis, with three world titles to her name and also a holder of marks over 15 meters this year, the night was good: registering 14.90 meters is an elite result, but she needed more to bid farewell with a better smile.

Third place among eight participants is very positive, and the best part for those who follow Cuban athletics is knowing that the women's triple jump has among its most prominent protagonists three women born on the island.

Liadagmis said goodbye without a mark, as her only two attempts ended in fouls; Thea Lafond finished fourth with 14.47.

In the 400 meters there was also representation from the island with Cienfuegos native Roxana Gómez reaching the final; she advanced from her qualifying heat in fourth place after recording 50.34 seconds, and among the top eight she crossed the finish line in seventh place, thanks to her 50.21 seconds.

The Ultimate Championship distributed 10 million dollars in prizes, brought together more than 300 participants from 85 nations, and according to World Athletics, the idea is to maintain its celebration in alternate years to the World Championship.