Cuban athletics seeks over 10 gold medals in Rio-2007 Games

Updated：2007-06-24 From：Xinhuanet

HAVANA, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Cuban Athletics Federation (FCA) announced on Friday its intention to surpass in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro Pan American Games the 10-gold-medal goal attained in the 2003 Santo Domingo event.

Athletics commissioner Esteban Brice stated his country's athletics team will be comprised of 54 athletes, including long-jump star Ivan Pedroso and woman's runner Zulia Calatayud.

Pedroso, 2000 Olympic gold medalist and many times outdoor and indoor world champion, recently jumped 8.15 meters and guaranteed his presence in Rio-2007.

Calatayud, 800-meter world champion in Helsinski in 2005, will participate in the 4x400 meters relay. Her 800m participation in Rio-2007 will be decided on July 22 depending on her form, Brice said.

On the absence of hurdler Anier Garcia, Olympic champion in Sydney, Brice said Garcia has only clocked 13.70 seconds in the 110-meter hurdle in 2007.