Cuba with two A finals in the rowing qualifier for Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo, Oct. 16 - Cuba advanced to the A finals this Thursday in the men's singles (1x) and women's lightweight double pair (2xPL), on the first day of the rowing qualifying tournament for the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games.

Angel Luis García, president and national commissioner, who is attending the Guatemalan competition as a technical delegate, informed the Cuban News Agency that the protagonist in the 1x was Henry Joan Heredia, who dominated the eliminatory heat with a time of 7:37.64 minutes.

In the 2xPL, Leah Almeida and Ana Laura Jiménez (07:33.00) moved on to the medal discussion with the first place finish in the eliminatory heat with the finish line at 2,000 meters. This duo, like Heredia, has a strong chance of qualifying for the Dominican multi-sport event, held on Lake Petén.

The other Cuban boat competing this Wednesday was the women's 1x, with Leah, but she finished in fourth place (08:26.75) and will also be in the B final tomorrow, which determines places seventh through twelfth, García noted.

The men's and women's teams from the largest of the Antilles are led by captain Roberto Carlos Paz Sánchez.

Alongside Paz are also Leudar Suárez, Adel Gutiérrez, Pedro González, Reidy Cardona, and Francisco Romero. The women's team is comprised of Nataly Morales, Lisandra Verdecia, Loraidis Echavarría, Anyel Galindo, and Rayma Ortiz.

Completing the Cuban delegation participating in the qualifier until this Sunday are coaches Joan Manuel Paula, Nelson Simón, and Vladimir Reyes.

García recalled that the Cubans' goal is to secure spots in the 13 modalities scheduled for the Central Caribbean competition.

He added that nine spots will be awarded in the men's and women's singles (1x), five in the men's and women's double pair (2x) and coxless double (2-), and six in the men's and women's lightweight 2x.

In this regard, he clarified that with the tickets for these modalities, the presence of the boats with larger crews is guaranteed, including the coxed eight (8+). (Text and Photo: Cubasí)