PAN AMERICAN GAMES : They Are Hosts With the Most : Marathon: Alberto Cuba starts things off by winning men’s event in 2:19:27. Cuban runners account for four of the country’s 11 medals.

Even before day broke Saturday at the Pan American Games, even before the sun had hauled itself above the sea and begun its incessant glare, a new hero for all of Cuba was padding through the dark streets.

He was not alone. His brothers, cousins, uncles and many neighbors had formed an armada of their Chinese-made bicycles and were escorting Alberto Cuba to his victory in the marathon, winning the first gold medal of the Games and the first in what would become a triumphant day for Cuba--both the man and the country.

The marathon began before dawn to avoid the day’s heat and humidity. Cuba finished 26 miles and 385 yards later in a respectable 2 hours 19 minutes 27 seconds, inside Pan American Stadium before a jubilant crowd of about 8,000, which had been sitting in the heat for hours. Most were frantically waving red, white and blue Cuban flags and were already chanting “Cuba! Cuba!” when he emerged from a tunnel and took his final lap around the stadium’s track. Cuba held off fast-charging Jose Carlos Santana of Brazil, who looked as if he might catch Cuba but finished second in 2:19:29. The crowd cheered wildly minutes later when, unexpectedly, Radames Gonzales of Cuba burst into the stadium for the bronze medal.

The clot of photographers and TV cameras around both Cuban runners blocked the tunnel’s entrance to the track. Fans poured out of the stands and hoisted Cuba on their shoulders. Someone produced a flag. Cuba and Gonzalez ran a victory lap carrying the flag high, and in their wake jogged a mixture of fans and Cuban sport officials, many with tears in their eyes.

There were tears for Cuba in the the women’s race, too. Olga Avalos de Appell of Mexico led from the start and won in 2:43:36, a Pan Am Games record. But behind Appell were not the two U.S. runners the crowd had expected. Maribel Durruty came out of the tunnel next in the all-red uniform of Cuba, signaling the start of another raucous celebration. Emperatriz Wilson Traba of Cuba followed, giving Cuba the silver and bronze medals in the women’s race.

Beyond anyone’s expectations--for Cuba is a cradle to sprinters, not distance runners--the host country’s four marathoners had won four medals.

It was a trend. By noon Saturday, Cubans were dominating competition in all venues. Cuba is hardly considered a stronghold of canoe-kayakers, but Cubans won five of the seven golds in the first day of the sport. Cuba’s men’s basketball team led the United States by three at halftime, but went on to lose by four points.

The country’s breakthrough in the marathon, which had been won by a Cuban only twice before in the Pan Am Games, gave Cuba 11 medals in Saturday’s 10 events, including six gold medals.

Cuba’s first gold medal, won by Alberto Cuba, also became the Games’ first nationalistic gesture. The marathoner, who turned 29 four days ago, said he was dedicating his medal to the people of Cuba who had worked so hard and sacrificed so much to put on these Games. He then said he would present the medal to Cuban President Fidel Castro on Castro’s birthday, Aug. 13.

Saturday dawned hot and humid, as usual, about 90 degrees with equal humidity. The marathon course started at Eduardo Saborit Stadium on Havana’s west side and wound its way past most of the city’s important landmarks. In fact, Janice Ettle of Freeport, Minn., who was familiar with both the course and the sights, passed time during the race’s middle miles by serving as tour guide and called out the names of buildings and squares to teammate Lynn DeNinno of Pittsburgh.

Ettle finished fourth in 2:49:22 and DeNinno was fifth in 2:49:34.

Both women praised the race’s organization. “It was absolutely perfect,” DeNinno said. “They were great with the water, ice and sponges on the course. I would compare this, as far as organization, to the best American marathons.”

Saturday’s race was only the second marathon ever held in Cuba, the first having been run in January. Logistics were made easy by the small size of the fields. Only 10 women started and nine finished. Twenty men started and five dropped out, including Americans Don Janicki and Mark Curp. Janicki, of Louisville, Colo., had been running in last place and dropped out at about 12 miles. Curp, of Lee’s Summitt, Mo., was second from last and dropped out because of stomach cramps after 21 miles.

It was near the 22-mile mark that Cuba pulled away from two Mexicans, Marcelino Crisanto Cuarto and Salvador Garcia. Cuba was running in only his third marathon; he is a converted 5,000- and 10,000-meter runner. Nevertheless, he said he felt confident.

Cuba and the other runners were in some jeopardy, however, when the morning’s light traffic was allowed to stray dangerously close to the runners. So close was a taxi at one point that, with every stride, Garcia’s elbow flashed in and out the car’s open window. The proximity of the traffic was made worse by Cuba’s use of Eastern European gasoline, which produces an acrid, foul-smelling exhaust.

Little appeared to bother Cuba, who was reunited with his proud family at the stadium. His mother and grandmother took turns laughing and crying. An uncle was being attended to by a relative--his heart had been beating too fast all morning. Cuba’s fiancee, a medical student, was showing reporters her engagement ring.

Proudest of all was Arturo Cuba, Sr., a construction supervisor who helped build the athletes’ village. He nodded vigorously when asked if he thought his son had become a Cuban hero. He laughed when asked if his family would celebrate.

“Of course, of course, yes, all night, forever,” he said.

The senior Cuba then graciously invited a journalist to his home for the party.

And what of Cuba’s newest hero?

He was off looking for his bike, so he could ride the 12 miles home for the party.