Spanish middle distance runner Juan Carlos Higuero (© Getty Images)
Juan Carlos Higuero produced a great 1500m run during the second leg of ‘Gran Premio Vodafone’ held yesterday, 14 February.
Recording an indoor PB of 3:36.39, the 25-year-old Spaniard took a full second off the previous world leading mark set by Kenya’s Paul Korir in 3:37.45 (31 January).
However, Higuero’s win was so close that only half a second covered the first three at the end with 2000 European 1500m indoor champion José Antonio Redolat taking second place in 3:36.55, and Álvaro Fernández coming a close third also inside 3:37 with a 3:36.90 clocking.
Paced by training-mate Colombia’s Edgar Rivera, Higuero went through the 400m in 56.80 but the pace decreased dramatically in the next 400 to cover 800m in 1:56.05. At 900m Higuero overtook the fading pacemaker and installed himself into the lead, closely followed by Fernández and Redolat.
It was at 1200m (2:55.12) that Fernández (3rd last year on the indoor world list in 3:35.83) went past Higuero and led the race until the 1400m point when Higuero overhauled him to finally take top spot in a PB of 3:36.39. Redolat threatened Higuero’s dominance in the homestraight but had to settle for second only 16 hundredths adrift.
Double (indoor & outdoor) European Cup 1500m winner last year, Higuero commented, “I’m happy because I didn’t feel today as good as usual and despite that I managed to win.“
"I had targeted to run in the 3:34-3:35 region but the pacemaker couldn’t reach 1000m in 2:24 as scheduled (it was 2:26 instead with Higuero already at front) and that defeated the purpose of running faster; in addition, the victory was at stake and winning became the most important thing”.
Coming three weeks before the World Indoor championships to be held in Budapest, Higuero’s win confirmed the great expectations that the reigning European indoor silver medallist (Vienna 2002) has for this indoor season.
“I wouldn’t want to become obsessed with a medal in Budapest but I honestly think that I’m capable to get it. Of course, the first step will be the Spanish champs next weekend here in Valencia”. The battle there will be fierce since there will be only two Budapest berths on offer for at least three qualified runners.
Other results...
Other notable results came from David Canal in the 400 with a season best of 46.64 (21.76 split at 200m), Manuel Martínez in the Shot with a 20.16 heave and Natalia Rodríguez (last year’s winner at the IAAF Golden League meeting in Paris Saint-Denis) at 1500m clocking 4:09.16.
Sergio Gallardo, who came runner-up in Ghent last Sunday to Higuero over 1500m was successful at 3000m in 7:49.39, while Marta Domínguez clocked 8:57.28 in the women’s event.
As a final note, a minor injury in the warm-up prevented World silver medallist Yago Lamela to take part in the Long Jump contest.
