It’s not easy to see so many athletics stars together in Madrid, but the capital has long opted for this sport and that has resulted in the unstoppable growth of the World Indoor Gold event that is usually held in Gallur. Athletes of the stature of the American Chase Ealey (Weight), his compatriot Yared Nuguse (1,500 meters), the French Cyréna Samba-Mayela (60 m hurdles) or the Spanish Mo Katir, who already in the previous one threatened to break the world record of 1,500, the distance finally chosen to participate in Madrid, where there was not a soulsold 2,900 tickets months ago.
Confirmed his absence in the list that the coach will offer tomorrow for the istanbul european (from March 2 to 5), Katir had few opportunities left to shine indoors -perhaps the one in Madrid will be his last race before focusing on the outdoors- and that is why the Murcian wanted to do something big in Gallur.
After Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s last-minute resignation from competing in Madrid, the recent 3,000 European record holder chose to focus on “brands” and bet on a high-level 1,500, with Mario Garcia Romo (another of those absent in Istanbul), the aforementioned Listen to Adel Mechaal. A test and a track that invited to run fast. And boy did they do it, especially in the first half of the test, in which the American Sowinski played the role of his hare to perfection. He passed the 400 in 54.84 and reached the 800 in the 1:20 they had asked him for, but there it sank. He pulled back with a hundred meters to the kilometer to go and Katir and Nuguse, who were close behind, went down a bit with him. He attacked the Spaniard with 300 meters to go and remained in the lead until the final stretch, in which the American hit a devastating change that proved impossible for the Murcian. Won Nuguse con 3:33.69, the best mark ever in Gallur, with Katir (3:34.32) and Mechaal (3:34.82), behind. A good ending to a lively rally that was somewhat lackluster.
Because there was no brilliance in the men’s 800 either, another of the most anticipated tests, where Mariano García’s bike did not run at the pace he expected. The national record holder, in what will surely be his last indoor test, finished last and very far from the victory that Saúl Ordóñez took with 1:46.22. Good mark for the recent champion of Spain.
In the speed, the women’s 60 hurdles, with a good participation, was taken by the Finn Reetta Husky, whose 7.79 is one of the best marks of the year and is already the best of the meeting. In the men’s event, Llopis stayed far from the top positions after a bad start that marred his race, the Spaniard fourth in the end (7.51) in a test that he won Daniel Roberts (7.39). The last speed test, the prelude to the main dish of the day, left another championship record in the legs of Aminatou Seyni, the athlete from Niger who swept the women’s 60 freestyle (7.08). The Spanish Jael Sakura Bestué could only be fourth (7.24).
Beyond the tests that focused the spotlights, there were more flashes in Gallur. Beginning with the triumph of the Cuban Liadagmis Poveaworld leader in the triple jump, who took the victory with a best attempt of 14.65 meters or the joy of Oscar Husillos in the 400 (45.84), far from his Spanish record achieved last week on this same track. In weight, the duel between Sarah Mitton and Chase Ealey fell on the Canadian’s side, with a longer throw of 19.76 that set a new rally record. shone too Tentoglou, the Greek Olympic champion in Tokyo 2020, who went up to 8.15 in length. A contest in which up to five athletes finished above eight meters, including the Spanish Jaime Guerra, a personal best with 8.08.