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I heard a comment from the announcer about Cuba not having really good pole vaulters therefor they probably do not have too many coaches to help the decathletes. I was wondering what the national record for Cuba was?

I saw in results where Leonel Suárez jumped 5 meters. But then I saw Yunior Diaz jumped 4.60 on tv and it looked like he won't even clearing his hand grip, so what was he doing just running amazingly fast holding 16 foot and hoping he could just turn over the bar?

Probably cannot afford the poles - may not be allowed to buy them because of the ridiculous embargo!

altius wrote:Probably cannot afford the poles - may not be allowed to buy them because of the ridiculous embargo!

I competed against a guy from Cuba in the 2006 NACAC Championships. His name was Lázaro Borges and he vaulted 5.25m and just about had 5.30. He brought one VERY OLD catapole and sneaked over every bar from 4.80-5.25. He probably would be a decent vaulter if he had a selection of poles and coach.

Borges jumped a 5.70 Cuban NR last year and 5.65 this year. He NH'd at the Olympics.

Back in the early & mid 90's, Cuba had a 5.65 and 5.60 vaulter. I believe the 5.65 vaulter's name was Angel Garcia.

Other than those 3, I don't know of any that jumped over 18'.

I would guess there are decent coaches in Cuba. They do well in other technical events and had access to Soviet coaches. Due to the prohibitive cost and the US embargo, it's probably next to impossible to get equipment.

hey

i do believe they have russia or ukraine coaches...

if they are committed to the event they will have no problem getting poles.

dj

ps. i didn't see poles as a problem for the decathlon athletes.. so