RFEA
4 May 2001 – Martin Fiz and Abel Anton will lead a strong Spanish selection to compete in the marathon at the IAAF World Championships in Edmonton. The Spanish Technical Committee has revealed today the names of four other athletes who will accompany these two Spanish greats in Canada. Abel Anton, an automatic qualifier after his victory in Seville two years ago, and Martin Fiz, sixth place finisher in Sydney 2000, had already met the standards set by the IAAF to qualify for the World Championships.
The other four athletes have obtained their qualification thanks to good performances accomplished this year. Toni Pena (2:07:34) won the Otsu Marathon last 4 March, Julio Rey (2:07:45) and Javier Cortes (2:07:48) finished respectively first and second in Hamburg Marathon last 22 April and Oscar Fernandez (2:10:33) was 8th in Rotterdam on 22 April.
For the women’s race, the Spanish Federation has announced five qualifiers: Luisa Larranga (2:30:11), winner of the Valencia Marathon on 4 February, Maria Abel (2:29:46), Eva Sanz (2:30:56), Griselda Gonzalez (2:31:05) and Marta Fernandez (2:32:50), respectively third, fifth, sixth and seventh in Rotterdam.
Kamel Ziani (2:10:36) and Alberto Juzdado have been selected as reserve runners for this year’s most important athletics rendezvous.
Fabian Roncero (2:10:08) seventh in Rotterdam, decided not to compete in the Marathon in Edmonton in order to concentrate on the 5000 and 10,000m.
