- August 3, 2026
Santo Domingo, Aug 3 (Prensa Latina) World champion Leyanis Pérez confirmed her status as favorite today, and long-distance runner Anisleidis Ochoa starred in one of the biggest surprises for Cuban athletics at the Central American and Caribbean Games.
While Pérez asserted his dominance in the triple jump, Ochoa delivered a brilliant performance in the 5,000 meters to lead a productive day for Cuban athletics at the Félix Sánchez Stadium.
The flag bearer of the Cuban delegation left no room for doubt, and from her first attempt she registered 14.78 meters, a sufficient distance to secure the title and control a competition marked by constant interruptions due to the awards ceremonies and the simultaneous development of the track events.
Although she won a medal that was missing from her Central American record, the reigning world triple jump queen admitted that she had expected a better mark.
“It was very difficult to aim for a great time. I talked with my coach and we decided to simply ensure we qualified for the competition without overexerting ourselves,” he said after the race.
Pérez further explained that the pace of the event affected the technical development of the final: “The interruptions dampened the competition, but I was committed to performing as the flag bearer. I went out to win gold from the first jump and I achieved my goal, in addition to improving on the silver medal I had won previously.”
The podium was completed by fellow Cuban Liadagmis Povea, with 14.71 meters, and Dominican Ana José, with 13.85.
The other great joy for Cuba came thanks to the career of Anisleidis Ochoa, who wrote an unprecedented page for national athletics by winning Cuba’s first Central American title in the five thousand meters.
The 25-year-old Cuban long-distance runner intelligently managed her pace throughout the race, staying alongside the main favorites, Venezuelan Edymar Brea, silver medalist, and Mexican Dafne Juárez, bronze medalist of the event.
However, he saved his best for last, and in the final two laps he launched a sprint that left his rivals without an answer and crossed the finish line in 16:57.67 minutes.
The victory represents Cuba’s second historic podium finish in this distance, after the bronze achieved by Yadisleivis Castillo in Veracruz 2014.
Already qualified for the Lima 2027 Pan American Games, Ochoa will seek to expand her medal haul when she competes in the 3,000 meters and the 1,500 meters.
On this first day, Cuba celebrated the silver medals won by Luis Zayas in the high jump (2.20 meters), shot putter Juan Carley Vázquez (19.34 meters) and triple jumper Liadagmis Povea (14.71 meters).
Meanwhile, the bronze medals were won by sprinter Yarima García in the 100 meters (11.32 seconds), hammer thrower Yaritza Martínez (65.90 meters) and the Cuban 4×400 meter mixed relay team.
With two titles, three silver medals and three bronze, Cuba started its participation in athletics at Santo Domingo 2026 strongly, driven by the leadership of Leyanis Pérez and the emergence of Anisleidis Ochoa as one of the great protagonists of the day.
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