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Superb long jumping by Panamanian Irving Saladino – 8.51w
Thursday 7 April 2005
Panama, the land mostly known for the canal that splits the American continent in two, also has a rich athletics tradition. Its biggest sport hero is sprinter 
Lloyd LaBeach, a two-time Olympic bronze medallist at 100 and 200 meters, at the 1948 London Games.
At the latest Olympic Games in Athens, a hurdler, Bayano Kamani, brought back some of that glory, by reaching the final of the 400m Hurdles and placing fifth. But now, it seems like twenty-two year-old 
Irving Saladino, has become the new sensation of South American athletics.
This past Saturday, 2 April, in São Paulo, Brazil, Saladino produced the world’s longest jump of 2005, and the furthest in South American history, an 8.51 effort, wind aided by a 2.3 m/s breeze.
Irving has been competing and training in Brazil since January, under the guidance of Nelio Moura, the man who coached several Brazilian jumpers towards the top of the international scene. So far, since training in São Paulo, Saladino has jumped 3 times, all of them over 8 metres.
Last weekend’s meet was held at the Stadium of “Parque Ibirapuera” in São Paulo, the venue of many past editions of the IAAF Brazilian Grand Prix. Saladino opened the morning competition with 8.39m (2.9 wind), showing that somehow the day was going to be special. Then he had two wind legal jumps just below 8 metres – 7.97 and 7.98. At his fourth attempt, Irving achieved a new national record – 8.18 (0.3) – while the best jump of the day came in his fifth try, the wind aided 8.51, and the last one was a foul.
Three other athletes went over 8 metres. Rodrigo Rodrigues de Araújo with 8.16/3.5 (8.01/1.9), 19 year-old Rogério Bispo (born 19.11.85) with 8.15/1.7, and 32 year-old veteran Nelson Ferreira with 8.00/1.9.
With their performances, Saladino moved to 6th place in the South American All-Time lists, while Bispo is now 7th. The area record still belongs to Douglas de Souza (8.40 from 1995), who tragically died in a car accident in 1998.
Other top results from São Paulo were obtained by André Domingos da Silva (10.31 in 100m), Bruno Nascimento Pacheco (20.77 in 200m), Anderson Jorge dos Santos (46.27 in 400m), Jefferson Dias Sabino (16.53 in TJ), Ivan Scolfaro da Silva (7515 in Decathlon), Lucimar Teodoro (52.98 in 400m), Perla Regina dos Santos (57.03 in 400mh), Luciana Alves dos Santos (13.58 in TJ) and Elisângela Adriano (57.29 in DT and 16.71 in SP).
South American Grand Prix underway
The weekend also marked the beginning of the regional South American GP but the cold and windy weather of Mar del Plata conspired against good performances.
The 110m Hurdles contained a world class field filled with Brazilian talent. Matheus Inocêncio, a 2004 Olympic finalist won in 13.60, aided by a 5.3 wind. Anselmo Gomes da Silva was second in 13.66, while 2003 World Championship finalist, Márcio Simão de Souza was 3rd in 13.96. South American record holder, Redelen dos Santos was disqualified in the final after recording a second false start, but yet, had the fastest time of the day, 13.48w/2.6 from the first preliminary heat.
In his first competition in more than 5 months, 2004 World Junior silver medalist, Argentina’s Germán Chiaraviglio was beaten in the Pole Vault by compatriot Javier Benítez, 5.17 to 5.07. On the women’s side, Athens’ Olympic finalist Alejandra García won with 4.10, also in her first tournament of the season, beating Colombia’s Milena Agudelo by 5 centimetres.
Other good performances from Mar del Plata were produced by Argentinean throwers Jorge Balliengo (60.43 in DT) and Juan Ignacio Cerra (71.28 in HT). In the women’s High Jump, Solange Witteveen showed her good form by beating another Colombian, Caterine Ibargüen 1.87 to 1.85.
The next meets of the regional GP will be in Uruguay. San Carlos shall be the host on 6 April, and 10 April. The competition will return to Argentina. Rosario on 14 April and Santa Fe on 16 and 17 April will be the venues.
These events will prepare the road to the 2 IAAF Grand Prix events in the region, to be held in Rio de Janeiro on 15 May and Belém on 22 May.
Eduardo Biscayart for the IAAF
Irving Jahir Saladino Aranda
Born in Ciudad de Colón, on 23 January 1983. 1.80m; 70Kg.
Coached by Florencio Aguilar and Nelio Moura.
Evolution
2002: 7.51 A – NR-j
2002: 7.39
2003: 7.46
2004: 8.12 A – 7.74
2005: 8.18 NR – 8.51w
Other pb’s: 100m: 10.4 ’04.
At International competitions
OG: ’04- 7.42/18qB
WJ: ’02- 7.30/10qB
SAmC: ’03- 7.46/3
SAmC-23: ’04- 7.74/3
CAC-j: ’02- 7.39/3