MADRID, 22 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish athletes Raquel González and Laura García-Caro achieved this Friday the fifth and sixth place in the 35-kilometre walk test at the Eugene World Championship (Oregon, United States), a great performance to aspire to the medals in the European Championship.
The American appointment was very expensive from the beginning. Three walkers above the rest claimed the podium, which was repeated in the 20-kilometre test. The Peruvian Kimberly García Léon hung the gold again (2:39:16), ahead of the Polish Katarzyna Sdzieblo and the Chinese Shijie Qieyang.
The Spanish duo was strong and did not stop fighting for the podium, still cutting five kilometers from the end, but wear and tear caused them to lose position to the Greek Antigoni Ntrismpioti, fourth. “We were in the group behind. Kimberly was superior, we knew that if we entered that war we could be left far behind. We have been there,” said Raquel González.
“There was a moment when I was fourth and I was cutting the Chinese but it had escaped quite a bit at the beginning and it was not enough. It was there that the chocolate one escaped me and the Greek caught me,” he added in statements provided by the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA), already thinking about the European next month, despite a complicated year in preparation.
As the third best European in the world, with the second best Spanish record in history (2:42.27), Raquel starts as one of the favorites for the European Championships in Munich, as does García-Caro, in turn after setting a personal record ( 2:42.45). Lepe’s also marched at all times in the chasing group and ended up satisfied for leaving everything although it was not enough for a podium.
“I have felt very well. I was there fighting. From kilometer 15-20 I was already suffering from high rhythms but I knew that I had trained for it and could continue a little longer. The rivals have been very tough, the first three from the first moment or We have been able to follow them but I wanted to fight with the ones I was with, get my best performance and I have done it”, said García-Caro.
Spain thus adds another two places of finalists in the World Cup, with the march in good place with a view to the European. “We will fight to be there in front in the medals. There is a high level but it makes us not relax and we want a little more”, added Laura.