Havana, September 5 (RHC) – Leyanis Pérez leaped to 14.82 meters at the 2026 Diamond League final in Brussels. That jump secured her second place in the competition.
In the elite athletics competition, the athlete from Pinar del Río achieved that mark on her third attempt on the sand. However, it wasn’t enough, as Senegalese athlete Sally Sarr had been leading the competition since the second round with a mark of 14.95 meters.
The world champion, who opened with 14.79 meters, fouled on her second attempt. On her fourth attempt, she achieved 14.78 meters, and her fifth and sixth jumps were also invalid, allowing Sarr to finish on the fifth round with 14.96 meters.
Thus, the athlete from Pinar del Río relinquished her Diamond League title, which she had held for two championships. Nevertheless, this second-place finish keeps her among the world’s elite, where she has also been crowned champion twice in the indoor track and field world.
The duel with Sarr is scheduled to resume at the exclusive World Ultimate Championships in Hungary next weekend.
From the Belgian city, the Diamond League awarded a bronze medal to fellow Cuban Davisleydis Velazco, who reached 14.73 meters.
A compatriot of the silver and bronze medalists, Liadagmis Povea finished sixth with a modest 14.08 meters, behind Olympic champion Thea Lafond of Dominica, who only managed 14.13 meters.
Cuba was also represented in Brussels by Jorge Hodelin. In the long jump, the young athlete withdrew from the competition after the second round due to a leg injury.
Hopefully, this setback will not prevent him from participating in the World Ultimate Championships, a tournament for which he has qualified.
