MADRID, 14 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish athletes Daniela García, in the 800 meter event, and María Vicente, in the triple jump event, won gold medals this Friday at the European Under-23 Athletics Championships, which is taking place in the city of Espoo (Finland).
The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) highlighted in a press release that “the afternoon in the Finnish city began with a strong storm and consequent deluge” just as the women’s triple jump final was about to begin, which motivated the competition “was suspended for an hour”; the pole vault qualification was even postponed.
María Vicente, in a great contest, reached 14.21 meters in her second jump. She placed first and dynamited the final, where none of her rivals could get close to such a barrier; the Catalan did 14.19 m. she in her fourth jump and closed with 14.15 m., adding this title to the Europeans that she already achieved in sub-18 (triple and heptathlon) and sub-20 (triple).
Just before Vicente made his last jump, in chronological order, the Balearic middle-distance runner Daniela García won an 800-meter final that she controlled at all times. She maneuvered well when she was locked in past the 400, knowing how to come out on the inside and picking up the pace progressively; she then pulled away from her rivals, completed a splendid straight to the finish line and claimed gold.
The third Spanish protagonist of the day came in the longitude, where the Basque Iker Arotzena fought for the medals until the last moment in a final where he grew. He started with 7.26 m. in provisional third place, but dropped as his rivals improved jump after jump; the Gipuzkoan was not intimidated, with a second record of 7.38 m. and a third of 7.54 m. who kept their illusions.
Although Arotzena completed her contest with the best jump of all, reaching 7.60 m, she definitely took fifth place. The gold went to the Norwegian Henrik Flatnes (7.96 m.), the silver went to the German Simon Batz (7.72 m.) and the bronze went to the Hungarian Matyas Nemeth (7.71 m.).
In addition, the Catalan Berta Segura became the first Spanish participant in a 400 meter final. With the handicap of running on 1st street, Segura finished in eighth place and thus continued the pleasant progression that she has been making in just over two seasons.
Likewise, during the day he highlighted that two Spaniards will compete this Saturday in the final of the 100 meter hurdles. It was thanks to the good performances first of Claudia Villalante, entering by positions in the second semifinal with 13.20 (MMP), and then of Paula Blanquer, who entered by times thanks to her record of 13.21 (MMP).