Jesus Espana celebrates his European 5000m title in Gothenburg (© Getty Images)
Avilés, SpainSeveral top Spanish athletes proved to be in excellent shape at the 90th Spanish Championships which were celebrated over the weekend (17-18 July) in the northern city of Avilés. All their efforts were geared to the European Athletics Championships to be held at Barcelona’s ‘Estadio Lluís Companys’ from 27 July to 1 August. ??
España ready to retain European title
The men’s 5000m had been billed as a thrilling three-horse battle between the reigning European champion Jesús España, the World indoor 3000m silver medallist Sergio Sánchez and the newly-minted Spanish record holder at 12:57.25 Alemayehu Bezabeh. The race didn’t let anyone down as the 27-year-old Sánchez injected such a frantic early pace that he went through the opening lap in 1:00.5 with only España, Bezabeh and Carlos Castillejo for company.
Despite slowing down over the following laps, their splits were 2:36.70 (1000), 5:20:09 and 8:01.80 (3000). It was then that the Ethiopian-born Bezabeh took charge of the race but his lead was short-lived and Sánchez retook the lead before the 4000m point (10:44.13). At the bell España moved to the front and was never headed launching his trade-mark devastating final kick in the home-straight to succeed comfortably in a championships record of 13:18.46, also a season’s best, to take his seventh national title over the distance.
The last 400m only took 56.3 for the 31-year-old España, who was joined in the medal places by Bezabeh (13.18.95) and Sánchez - who pipped Castillejo in the closing stages to grasp bronze by just 0.04 – who clocked 13:19.21 and 13:19.25 respectively.
After crossing finish line, a joyful España showed the crowd assembled all five fingers from his right hand and two from the left to claim his seventh gold medal.
“I didn’t expect such a fast early rhythm but it was not a problem since I like championships races and their tactical fights much more than other meetings,” España said. On his chances in Barcelona, he added: “I’m in perfect shape to defend my title. I wouldn’t like to seem arrogant but I’m very tough to beat at 100% fitness and I’m now at that kind of fitness.” Who will be his stiffest opponent? That answer was easy. “Britain’s Mo Farah”. España also said he plans to chase the 12:57.25 Spanish record post-Barcelona.
Newcomer Olmedo is the 1500m boss??
As has become tradition, the men’s 1500m was one of the most awaited final throughout the weekend. The event featured a slew of international medallists to fight for only three berths at stake.??The race opened at a reasonable pace for a championships race as the pack went through the opening 400m in 58.41 led by the reigning European bronze medallist Juan Carlos Higuero. Then followed a much slower second lap (2:00.17 for 800m) and another 59s section for a 2:59.43 1200m split still with Higuero in command.
By then the favourites were virtually balanced with all still clinging to a chance for victory. Former 800m specialist Manuel Olmedo and 2007 European indoor bronze medallist Arturo Casado entered the homestraight in front and the former took advantage of his speed pedigree to clinch the title in 3:39.06 to Casado’s 3:39.21 to both secure spot for the Europeans.
The battle for the bronze medal was more than fierce and it was the experienced Reyes Estévez, who turns 34 next month, who snatched bronze in 3:39.53 ahead of Álvaro Rodríguez (3:40.05), Higuero (3:40.43) and the reigning European indoor champion Diego Ruiz (3:41.04).
To give an idea of the current 1500m Spanish standards suffice it to say that, while the fastest European time of the season stays at 3.34.50, athletes such as Ruiz and Higuero won’t be able to wear the Spanish vest at the Europeans despite respective SBs of 3:35.04 and 3.35.10, fourth and fifth respectively on the season’s list.
The 27-year-old winner declared: “I have been an 800m runner for so many years (PB of 1:45.13) but I haven’t manage to make a final at the major championships and so last year I decided to move up to the 1500 with that target in mind. It seems now that I was right and now look forward to competing in Barcelona where any of us (Casado, Estévez and myself) are capable of taking a medal.”
Rodríguez prevails over Fernández in classy women’s 1500m
The women’s 1500m event is one of the safest bets for Spain thinking of the Europeans as the current World indoor silver medallist Natalia Rodríguez and Nuria Fernández, the fastest indoor athlete in 2009 in 4:01.77, proved to be in fine form.
The event developed at a pedestrian pace (1:11.08 and 2:31:84 at 400 and 800m) with a packed leading group headed by the two hot favourites. Nobody dared surpass them and it was the 33-year-old Fernández who produced a devastating kick with 450m left which could only be covered by Rodríguez, the national record holder at 3:59.51.
Although Fernández did not fade at any time Rodríguez overtook her some 40 metres before the finish to snatch her eighth title in 4:21.45 to Fernández’s 4:22.42. The closing 400m was covered by the victor in 58.1s.
Beitia and Pascual target Barcelona success
Reigning World indoor silver medallist Ruth Beitia secured the gold medal with a second-time 2.00m clearance (SB) in the women’s High Jump before failing three times at a would-be NR of 2.03m although her second try was quite decent. The 31-year-old is eager to win her first ever outdoor medal in Barcelona after four indoor medals at Europeans and Worlds over the last five years.
Beatriz Pascual sent a message to the European top walkers by clocking a national best performance of 42:40.33 for the 10,000m Race Walk on the track. The 28-year-old Barcelona-based athlete is in the form of her life after taking the IAAF World Challenge in La Coruña in style last month and should play a key role in Barcelona alongside María Vasco, the World Cup winner in Chihuahua, who was given permission to skip the championships as was the case of reigning World 3000m steeplechase champion Marta Domínguez.
New generation rules the 800m
Kevin López (SB of 1:45.8h) outclashed his training-mate Luis Alberto Marco (1:45.26) in the men’s 800m. After a reasonably fast opening lap in 52.85 led by Marco, the current European Junior champion López proved to be the strongest over the homestraight to grab his first senior title in 1:47.48 ahead of the European indoor silver medallist Marco (1:47.83) who had to settle for the runner-up place on this occasion ahead another 1990-born rising star, David Bustos, the 1500m Ibero-American champion, while the Spanish record holder Antonio Reina came fourth one tenth behind Bustos (1:48.12 vs 1:48.23).
Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF
