MADRID, 10 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
A total of 70 athletes, 33 women and 37 men, will compete with Spain in the Ibero-American to be held in Alicante from May 20 to 22, after meeting the criteria established by the coach José Peiró and the Sports Directorate of the Royal Spanish Federation of Athletics (RFEA).
It is the largest team since San Fernando 2010 and the fourth with the most athletes in history after Huelva 2004 (84), San Fernando 2010 (82) and Seville 1992 (74). These 70 athletes who will compete in La Nucía (track events) and Torrevieja (half marathon) combine stripes and youth. Thus, up to 21 Spanish Olympians will meet at the Ibero-American, led by the runner-up in the 110-meter hurdles at Rio 2016, Orlando Ortega.
Of those 21 (11 women and 10 men), 18 were protagonists in Tokyo (10 women and 8 men), including two fourth classified as Eusebio Cáceres in length and Álvaro Martín in 20km walk.
Along with them will be in Alicante the medalists in the last U20 and U23 European Championships in Tallinn Sara Gallego (U23 silver in 400m hurdles), Eva Santidrián (U23 silver in 4x100m), Carmen Marco (U23 silver in 4x100m), Sergio López (U23 silver in 4x100m in 4x100m), Jesús Gómez (sub23 silver in 200m and 4x100m), Pol Oriach (sub20 gold in 3,000m obstacles), Carla Domínguez (sub20 gold in 5,000m), Carmen Avilés (sub20 silver in 4x400m) and Berta Segura (sub20 silver in 4x400m).
In addition, among the 70 summoned for the Ibero-American there are 27 Spanish leaders of 2022 and the current absolute national record holders in the open air of 400 m hurdles (Sara Gallego), weight (Belén Toimil), hammer (Laura Redondo) and 4×100 m women (Maribel Perez and Paula Seville); and 110 m hurdles (Orlando Ortega), hammer (Javier Cienfuegos) and 4×400 m (Samuel García and Óscar Husillos).
Four years later, Spain returns to the Ibero-American, in what will be the fifth time that the championship is held in Spain. The Alicante event, which will be held from May 20 to 22, will be the first thermometer to measure the level of the Spanish team ahead of the Oregon World Cup, the Munich European Championship, the Cali U20 World Cup and the Jerusalem U18 European Championship .
In the last edition of the Iberoamericano, held in Trujillo (Peru) in 2018, Spain won 18 medals (five golds, six silvers and seven bronzes); while the record remains in force since Manaus 1990 with 42 medals (14 gold, 19 silver and nine bronze).