Rose Mary Almanza Blanco (born 13 July 1992) is a Cuban middle-distance runner who competes in the 800 metres. She represented Cuba at the Pan American Games in 2011, 2015, 2019 and won medals at the Ibero-American and Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics.She was world champion in the 4x400 meter relay in Silesia 2021
Career Almanza ran internationally from a young age, coming fourth at the 2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics before taking the 800 m title at the Pan American Junior Championships.Pan American Junior Championships 2009 . World Junior Athletics History. Retrieved on 2012-07-18.Almanza Rose Mary. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-07-18. She won at the Barrientos Memorial in March 2010 and followed this with a personal best of 2:03.03 to take the silver medal at the 2010 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics.Clavelo Robinson, Javier (2010-03-23). Barrios steals the show at Barrientos Memorial. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-07-16.800m Mujeres Final . RFEA. Retrieved on 2012-07-18. She ran a national junior record of 2:02.04 in Havana in July and came fourth at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics.
In 2011, she improved her record further to 2:00.56 and won her first senior regional medal at the 2011 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics, placing second in the 800 m behind Gabriela Medina. She came close to a medal at the 2011 Pan American Games, but was edged into fourth place in the final.All Athletics Pdfs until 30 of oct at 19:16. Guadalajara2011. Retrieved on 2012-07-18.
She began 2012 in strong form, taking silver medals in the 800 m and 4×400 metres relay at the Ibero-American Championships.Biscayart, Eduardo (2012-06-10). Lauro and Arcanjo shine in Barquisimeto – Ibero-American champs, Day 2. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-07-18.Biscayart, Eduardo (2012-06-11). Two South American records fall as Ibero-American champs conclude in Barquisimeto. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-07-18. A run of 1:59.55 in Havana was enough to gain her a place on the Cuban squad for the 2012 London Olympics.Cuba announces team of 47 for London Games. IAAF (2012-07-16). Retrieved on 2012-07-18.
Almanza continued to perform at a high level in subsequent years. She set a 1:57.70 personal best in 2015, participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics and won the 800m title in the 2017 Summer Universiade.
By June 2021, Almanza had returned to career-best form in the 800m, running another personal best and world-leading time of 1:56.42 in Ordizia, Spain.Fast times in Kenyan Trials but Timothy Cheruiyot falls short – weekly round-up. Athletics Weekly (21 Jun 2021). Retrieved on 24 Jun 2021.
Personal bests Event Result Venue Date 800 m 1:56.28 Stockholm, Sweden 4 July 2021 800 m indoor 2:04.18 Eaubonne, France 9 February 2016 1500 m 4:14.53 Havana, Cuba 9 October 2014
International competitions Representing 2009 ALBA Games Havana, Cuba 4th 1500 m 4:30.20 World Youth Championships Bressanone, Italy 4th 800 m 2:04.31 Pan American Junior Championships Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago 1st 800 m 2:03.83 2010 Ibero-American Championships San Fernando, Spain 2nd 800m 2:03.03 World Junior Championships Moncton, Canada 4th 800 m 2:02.67 2011 Central American and Caribbean Championships Mayagüez, Puerto Rico 2nd 800m 2:02.23 Pan American Games Guadalajara, Mexico 4th 800m 2:04.82 A 2012 Ibero-American Championships Barquisimeto, Venezuela 2nd 800 m 2:03.29 2nd 4 × 400 m relay 3:29.13 Olympic Games London, United Kingdom 6th (sf) 800 m 2:01.70 2013 Central American and Caribbean Championships Morelia, Mexico 3rd 800m 2:03.10 A World Championships Moscow, Russia 11th (sf) 800 m 2:00.98 2014 Pan American Sports Festival Mexico City, Mexico 1st 800 m 2:03.56 A Central American and Caribbean Games Xalapa, Mexico 1st 800 m 2:00.79 A 2015 World Championships Beijing, China 20th (sf) 800 m 2:00.382016 World Indoor Championships Portland, United States 16th (h) 800 m 2:08.07Olympic GamesRio de Janeiro, Brazil26th (h)800 m2:00.502017World ChampionshipsLondon, United Kingdom8th (sf)800 m1:59.79UniversiadeTaipei, Taiwan1st800 m2:02.212018Central American and Caribbean GamesBarranquilla, Colombia1st800 m2:01.631st1500 m4:22.141st4 × 400 m relay3:32.61NACAC ChampionshipsToronto, Canada3rd800 m2:00.152019Pan American GamesLima, Peru2nd800 m2:01.647th1500 m4:14.814th4 × 400 m relay3:30.89World ChampionshipsDoha, Qatar13th (sf)800 m2:01.1813th (h)4 × 400 m relay3:29.842021World RelaysChorzów, Poland1st4 × 400 m relay3:28.41Olympic GamesTokyo, Japan11th (sf)800 m1:59.658th4 × 400 m relay3:26.922022World ChampionshipsEugene, United States27th (h)800 m2:01.962023ALBA GamesCaracas, Venezuela1st800 m1:59.691st1500 m4:25.691st4 × 400 m relay3:33.37Central American and Caribbean GamesSan Salvador, El Salvador1st800 m2:01.751st4 × 400 m relay3:26.08World ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary38th (h)800 m2:01.3313th (h)4 × 400 m relay3:29.70Pan American GamesSantiago, Chile4th800 m2:03.682024Olympic GamesParis, France17th (sf)800 m1:58.73
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