The Portuguese Irina Rodrigues seeks this Monday to be “even happier” in the classification of the discus throw of the world championships in athletics, in Eugene, in the United States, against all odds.

The Leiria-born pitcher, 31, admitted that it will be difficult to reach the final in his fifth appearance in World Championships —he has the best result of 17th in his debut, in Moscow 2013—, taking into account the 64-meter direct qualifying mark.

“The probability is low, because I have not reached 60 meters many times. I’m not saying it’s impossible, because nothing is impossible”, admitted Irina Rodrigues, without completely ruling out a place among the top 12.

The Sporting athlete ranks 31st in the classification world, with 62.08 this year and a personal best of 63.96, and will play in Group B, starting at 18:35 local time (02:35 on Tuesday in Lisbon), after the national record holder Liliana Cá will debut in the World Cups, also on the record, in Group A, starting at 17:10 (01:10).

“I cannot say a number or a qualification, because after Tokyo 2020, and since I am 31 years old, I made the decision to invest in my academic training, but I kept my presence in the World Cups as a goal and the classification he allowed it”, recognized Irina Rodrigues.

With the awareness of having done the best, and with a positive spirit, despite the preparation diminished by the conciliation with the fifth year of medicine.

“I feel happy and very grateful to be here and I hope that turn it into a result that makes me even happier”, he is stressed.

It is with this joy that Irina Rodrigues bets, in a different position from previous great competitions, such as in the two Olympic Games in which she participated, London in 2012 and Tokyo 2020, last year.

“I don’t have a brand as a reference, because whenever I had one I never got to it. I prefer not to bet on a brand, but anxiety used to be present in these big championships and, this time, I am more mature and that may have a different result, ”he assured.

So the strategy seems simple: “If I can get a good technique, have the confidence to stay inside the circle and apply the necessary speed, I think I’ll walk out of here even happier.”

The athletes who overcome 64 meters this Monday, or the top 12 in the classification, will compete in the discus final on Wednesday, at 18:30 (02:30).

Mamona seeks to repeat the Tokyo 2020 silver in the World Athletics Championships

The Portuguese Patrícia Mamona seeks this Monday to repeat the success of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the triple jump final of the World Championships in Athletics, in Eugene, United States.

Facing the Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas, Olympic champion and world record holder, the Portuguese hat-trick, silver medalist at last year’s Games, is trying to get on the podium in the final of the discipline, scheduled for 6:20 p.m. local time (02: Tuesday 20 in Lisbon).

The European Outdoor Champion in 2016 and inside in 2021 reached the final with the 10th ranking markjumping 14.32 in the third attempt, after having performed in Eugene 2022 with the 14th mark of the year (14.42 meters), achieved in March, in the World Indoor Championships, in which he ranked sixth.

After qualifying, still with back pain, Mamona, 33, seeks to reaffirm third place in the world ranking, behind the ‘alien’ Yulimar Rojas and Jamaican Shanieka Ricketts, or at least improve the sixth place achieved in Doha2019, in the best of his four previous World Cup appearances.

Sprinter Lorene Bazolo will compete again, in the 200 meters, after the distance in the 100 meters heats. At 39 years old, the national record holder in both distances, with 11.10 and 22.64 seconds, will play the second series, at 18:07 (02:07 on Tuesday in Lisbon).

The Portuguese-Congolese has 23.09 as the best record of the year, ranking 59th in the hierarchy in the competition.

Bazolo will be looking for one of the top three places or one of the six fastest among the rest to reach the semi-finals, which will be played on Tuesday from 18:05 (02:05 on Wednesday in Lisbon).

Liliana Cá, in Group A, starting at 17:10 (01:10 on Tuesday in Lisbon) and Irina Rodrigues, in Group B, starting at 18:35 (02:35 on Tuesday in Lisbon) will debut in the 18th edition of the Discus Throwing World Cup, looking for a shot over 64 meters of direct clearance, or one of the 12 best places, to reach the final, scheduled for Wednesday at 18:30 (02:30 Thursday in Lisbon).

Here, 35 years old, fifth in Tokyo 2020, he occupies the same position in the classification world, with 63.62 meters as the best mark of the year -far from her national record of 66.40-, while Irina Rodrigues, 31, appears in 31st place, with 62.08 this year and a personal best of 63.96.

Monday July 18:
LOCAL TIME (Lisbon) SUBJECT ATHLETE(S)

17:10 (01:10 July 19) Disc launch (F) – qualification Liliana Cá

18:07 (02:07) 200 meters (F) – Lorene Bazolo Qualifying

18:20 (02:20) Triple jump (F) Patricia Mamona

18:35 (02:35) Discus Throw (F) – qualification Irina Rodrigues