Juan Carlos Higuero (ESP) - right - wins Spanish 1500m indoor title (© Sergio Carmona)
Yago Lamela, men's European indoor Long Jump record holder, and his training partner Concepción Montaner had overwhelming wins respectively in the men’s and women’s Long Jumps at the Spanish Indoor Championships held last weekend, 1-2 March.
Lamela, who is also the world leader this season was pressing for a big jump throughout the contest and had two opening fouls jumps as a consequence. The 25-year-old Spaniard leapt prudently in round 3, just to ensure a place among the top eight competitors and complete the 6-attempt competition.
Lamela’s third leap was successful and was measured at 7.75 with a huge gap to spare on the take-off. By then (round 3) the leader was the reigning European Indoor champion Raúl Fernández, who had leapt 7.94 in his opening effort. The enthusiastic crowd clapped every move of Lamela in round 4 and he responded by taking over the lead with a 8.28 jump, a performance still some 15cm off his season’s best.
Once it was clear that this jump would make him the certain winner, Lamela then returned to his risky jumping and produced two more fouls. The silver medal went to Fernández with a 7.97 mark which he managed on his final jump.
For Lamela, who is a Valencia-based athlete, this was only his second national indoor title.
“I am happy winning today but I know I can jump further. Everything is going well since I am living in Valencia. I am working on my speed and it seems to be paying off. “
In the women’s Long Jump, the former (2000) World Junior champion Concepción Montaner set an indoor PB of 6.78 in round 2, to underline that she should be a factor at the ‘Worlds’ in Birmingham. The 22-year-old Montaner came just 1cm from the season’s leading mark which is held by World outdoor Triple Jump record holder Ukraine’s Inessa Kravets.
On her third attempt the Spaniard bounded out to 6.69 to consolidate her national dominance, while her countrywoman Niurka Montalvo witnessed the contest seated on the stands. Montalvo 1999 World champion in Seville will give birth to a baby within one month.
Montaner did not improve her performance in the final three rounds.
“Today’s has been the performance that I needed to gain confidence in myself. I am now faster, stronger, and have better technique than last year when I came fourth at the Europeans in Munich. I don’t rule out any place in Birmingham,” concluded a happy Montaner.
As expected the men’s 1500m was the most thrilling event of the weekend as the line-up included Roberto Parra and Álvaro Fernández, first and third respectively on this year’s world list plus the defending champion Juan Carlos Higuero. They were going to fight for the two World Championships spots at stake.
With so many classy runners in the field it was natural, if a little disappointing that the first half of the race became a slow cagey affair, the 400m covered in 1:04.29 (400) and 2:08.38 (800). It was then that Higuero took command although he did not increase the pace. At the bell (1200 in 3:20.57) Higuero kept the lead position, with Fernández in third, while Parra ran in fifth leaving himself too much to do in the final 200m.
The recent European Cup winner in Leipzig, Higuero, stepped up the pace dramatically over the last lap followed closely by Sergio Gallardo and Fernández, who moved to second before the last bend. Higuero ensured his Birmingham berth, winning convincingly in 3:47.03, his final 300m taking 39.81. Parra was still in fourth with 60m left but pipped past Gallardo and Fernández in the closing stages to snatch silver (3:47.33) and make the Spanish squad for the Worlds. The young Fernández had to settle for third 9/100ths of a second behind Parra.
Higuero declared: “This victory is an enormous boost for me and I will be looking for victory in Birmingham”. A bit disappointed, Fernández said: “I have run 3:35 this winter but I will no be competing at the Worlds...that’s Spain in the 1500m!”.
European indoor 3000m record holder Alberto García had been selected for the team without participation here and was given permission to miss these championships. Up to three more athletes had also run earlier in the season under the qualifying time set by the Spanish Federation (7:50.00) to gain selection for the Worlds: European indoor bronze medallist Jesús España, European Cup winner Yousef El Nasri and Isaac Viciosa, who was a 3:30 1500m man back in 1998.
The 3000m race started at a reasonable pace with the main group crossing the first kilometre in 2:39.52. España took the lead before the 2000m point (5:22.72) increasing gradually the pace with El Nasri and Viciosa in close attendance.
España unleashed a devastating kick at the bell, there was no catching him and he romped home in 7:50.94 over two seconds ahead of El Nasri, while Viciosa came third. A delighted España said: “I have had some problems in February and today’s was only my second indoor competition. I ran 7.43.78 last week and have now become Spanish champion, it’s fantastic; I’ll do my very best in Birmingham and I don’t rule out a medal.”
In the men’s 400m, David Canal stamped his authority from gun to tape. The European 400m silver medallist in Munich ran a brisk first lap going through the 200m point in 21.49, his fastest ever. It seemed that Canal would be able to break the 46s barrier for the first time indoors but in the end he stopped the clock in 46.02, just 2/100ths of a seconds slower than the National record that he shares with Cayetano Cornet. “I am looking forward to the 'Worlds' as I rank now fifth in the season’s list and anything can happen,” confirmed a confident Canal.
IAAF World Cup 800m winner Antonio Reina did not run his specialist event, but rather tested his 400m speed instead. The 21-year-old Spaniard cut his previous indoor best of 47.41 to win the semi-final in 47.28 on Saturday but there was room for improvement and he lowered his PB again clocking 46.89 to take the silver medal ahead of several accomplished 400m runners.
Other remarkable performances came from European 5000m champion Marta Domínguez with a 8:54.28 clocking in the 3000m, and Mayte Martínez who won a tactical 800 in 2:04.38. Glory Alozie was pushed until the tape by Aliuska López in the 60 Hurdles (8.07-8.08). In the infield, Ruth Beitia clinched the High Jump title with a 1.94 clearance, while Carlota Castrejana broke the National record in the Triple Jump with a consistent series of: 13.60 – 14.06 – 14.08 – 14.08 – 14.22 (NR) – 13.95.
Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF
Leading results
Men
200m: 1 Santiago Ezquerro 21.09
400m: 1 David Canal 46.02 – 2 Antonio Reina 46.89 – 3 Salvador Rodríguez 47.15
1500m: 1 Juan Carlos Higuero 3:47.03 – 2 Roberto Parra 3:47.33 – 3 Álvaro Fernández 3:47.42
3000m: 1 Jesús España 7:50.94 – 2. Yousef El Nasri 7:53. 41 – 3 Isaac Viciosa 7:53.80 – 4. Antonio Martínez 7:54.78 – 5 Pablo Villalobos 7:55.80
60 Hurdles: 1 Felipe Vivancos 7.81 (7.73 heats)
Long Jump: 1 Yago Lamela 8.28 – 2 Raúl Fernández 7.97
Shot Put: 1 Manuel Martínez 20.06
Women
800m: 1 Mayte Martínez 2:04.38 – 2 Esther Desviat 2:05.70
3000m: 1 Marta Domínguez 8:54.28 – 2 Amaia Piedra 9:02.31
60 Hurdles: 1 Glory Alozie 8.07 (8.04 semis) – 2 Aliuska López 8.08
Long Jump: 1 Concepción Montaner 6.78
High Jump: Ruth Beitia 1.94 – 2. Marta Mendía 1.90
Triple Jump: 1 Carlota Castrejana 14.22
Spanish Team for World Indoor Championships
Men
200m: Santiago Ezquerro 21.09
400m: David Canal 46.02
800m: Antonio Reina 1:46.68 - Juan de Dios Jurado 1:47.75
1500m: Roberto Parra 3:34.66 - Juan Carlos Higuero 3:41.64
3000m: Alberto García 7:32.98 - Jesús España 7:43.78
60 Hurdles: Felipe Vivancos 7.73
Long Jump: Yago Lamela 8.28 - Raúl Fernández 7.97
Shot Put: Manuel Martínez 20.06
4x400: David Canal / Antonio Reina 46.89 / Salvador Rodríguez 46.93 / Alberto Martínez 47.22 / Artzai Morante47.69 / Daniel Ruiz 47.83
Women
800m: Mayte Martínez 2:00.53 -Esther Desviat 2:02.52
1500m: Zulema Fuentes-Pila 4:14.64 -Eva Arias 4:14.85
3000m: Marta Domínguez 8:41.14 – Amaia Piedra 9:02.31
60 Hurdles: Glory Alozie 7.94
High Jump: Ruth Beitia 1.96
Pole Vault: Naroa Agirre 4.30
Long Jump: Concepción Montaner 6.78
Triple Jump: Carlota Castrejana 14.22
Note: Depending on this weekend’s ‘Portugal-Spain’ meet results, some athletes could join the squad.
