#SpainAthletics goes all out for the European Under-18 Championships

In two weeks, #SpainAthletics will face another major test – the European Under-18 Championships, which will be held in the Slovak city of Banská Bystrica from 18 to 21 July, specifically at the SNP Dukla Stadium, the same stadium that hosted the European Youth Olympic Festival (FOJE) two years ago.

Total 56 athletes (29 men and 27 women)were pre-selected after meeting the criteria set by coach José Peiro and the RFEA Sports Directorate. We are talking about the greatest number of the Spanish national team in four editions of this relatively new European Under-18 Championship, which was born eight years ago. This number is two more than the number of athletes who took part in Győr in 2018. Once again, #PassionToCompete will be the main motto of the Spanish team, which will leave everything to achieve the best results.

Among those registered, two brand new and recent Spanish record holders stand out from last weekend in the national category held in Malaga. They are Anthony Yunier Perezwith her fantastic 13.38 in the 110m hurdles, which took her to the top position in the European rankings for this category, and who will compete in both the high hurdles and long hurdles (where she also won the national title), as well as the throwing event Andrea Njimi Tankeuwho did the same in the discus throw at 51.85m, as well as completing a double in the discus and weight and who will also compete in both events at the European Championships, where he is the European leader in the discus events.

Having started the viewing of the men’s speed registrations, the Spanish champion will compete in the 100m. Alvaro Olmedo (10.57) and Samuel Chakweneka Rodriguez (10.54), took 4th and 7th places in Spain all time, and Rodriguez also became the 7th European of the Year; in the 200 m will be the champion of Spain Hugo Fernandez (21.61) and Ian Lopez (21.57); 400 m, Spanish champion Alejandro Nunez (47.38) the third Spaniard of all time and Oscar Crespo (47.90).

The middle distance and distance are distributed as follows: at 800m. Aaron Ceballos (1:50.48) and AAlejandro Munoz (1:51.61), champion and vice-Miss of Malaga; national champion at 1500 m Alvaro Gonzalez (3:50.01) e Iker Fernandez (3:51.78) and at 3000 m champion of the capital of Malaga Xavier Cabanilles (8:17.70) the eighth Spaniard of all time and the ninth European of the year.

The obstacles are spread over 110m with the record holder and recent national champion. Anthony Yunier Perez (13.38) and Mario Stefanov (13.40), the second Spaniard of all time, and also the second European of the year; in the 400 m hurdles, national champion Diego Espeso (52.23), 2nd place in Europe and Alex Ibanez (53.52), disqualified in Malaga after winning the race; in the 3000m steeplechase, two more at the top of the European rankings Marty Torregrosa (5:42.41) and the national champion Bakr El-Asri (5:43.34), the second and third European.

In the competition, the already mentioned long throw Anthony Yunier Perez (7.31 m) together with Ivan Garcia (7.29 m); in the top three, the Spanish champion Oscar Curto (14.93 m), the 11th European of the year and Gonzalo Kuhns (14.59 m) and in the throws, in the weight, the Spanish champion Victor Melgar (17.94 m) and in the hammer, the Spanish champion Magno Llopis (67.16 m) and Aaron Corcoles (69.72 m).

Finally, two representatives of the decathlon, the first two from Malaga. Hugo Senent (6904) and Jesus Gonzalez (6.894) and two more in the 5000m walk test: Malaga champion Cesar Hidalgo (21:31.32) and runner-up Pablo Zarate (21:24.81) are very well placed in the European season rankings, with Zarate in 5th place and Gentleman Six.

The women’s team is opened by the 100m sprinters who took second place in Spain Helen Arrazola (11.88) and national leader Sarah Navarro (English)11.79) fifth all time, in the middle distance two are selected: in the 800 m distance the champion of Spain Maria Alduan (2:08.98) and also a champion in the 1500 m Claudia Gutierrez (4:24.28), the seventh Spaniard in history.

The fences will have Emma Jimenez (13.65) e Iratxe Tejero (13.79), second and third place in the 100m hurdles in Malaga and champion Alain Ageralde (1:01.51), second place in Malaga and Itzaso Madariaga (59.65, although with last year’s mark of 59.11) in the 400 m hurdles, and in the 2000 m hurdles the European leader Nadia Soto (6:30.41) the second Spaniard of all time and Sabela Martinez (6:44.43), who were champion and vice-champion of Malaga.

The Spanish champion will be present at the height of the jumps. Zuzanna Bednarek (1.83 m ST) fourth place in Europe and Aitana Alonso (1.80 m) third in Malaga and ninth in Europe of the year; in pole vault another national champion, such as Noah Martinez (4.01 m) in length, it borders on the top ten in Europe and the fourth of all time. Luna Arnas (6.02m ST) Malaga and Triple Jump Champion Ana Lion Star (13.03 m ST) national champion and Maria Barrios (13.00 m), sixth and eighth place in the European ranking of the year.

The launches are managed by the above-mentioned Andrea Njimi Tankeuwho will compete in weightlifting and discus throwing, where he holds two Spanish records (16.43 m ST and 51.85 m), the latter clearly leading the European rankings; in matillo, the Spanish champion Aisha Corbacho (53.05 m) and in javelin throw, recent champion of Malaga. Lara Iglesias (52.56m) 2nd Spaniard of all time and 4th European of the year and Erica Sellart (50.13 m).

The combined tests are very well represented by the first two in Malaga. Andrea Monroy (5338) and Celia Fernandez (5302), the seventh and eighth Spaniard of all time and in the 5000 m walk, champion of Spain. Gina Torrewith (23:57.28) and took second place Irene Vega (23:55.28), both entered the European top 10 of the year (11th and 12th places)

Finally, in two medley relays (400 m – 300 m – 200 m – 100 m), the composition of which will be known depending on how the championship develops, two men and two women are riding, who can also participate in the game in each of them:

Izan Garciasecond in Malaga in the 100m (10.68), Pablo Rojo (48.24), bronze at 400m in Malaga, Ana Alba Ruiz (55.72), Spanish champion at 400 m. Sylvia Plata (55.87), bronze in Malaga in the 400m hurdles.

The following athletes have been pre-selected:

PEOPLE

100 m: Alvaro Olmedo, Samuel Chekweneka Rodriguez

200 m: Hugo Fernandez, Ian Lopez

400 m: Oscar Crespo, Alejandro Nunez

800m: Aaron Ceballos, Alejandro Munoz

1500 m: Iker Fernandez, Alvaro Gonzalez

3000 m: Xavi Cabanilles

110m hurdles: Anthony Yunier Perez, Mario Stefanov

400m Hurdles: Diego Espeso, Alex Ibanez

Obstacles 2000m long: Bakr El Asri, Marty Torregrosa

Length: Ivan Garcia, Anthony Yunier Perez

Triple jump: Gonzalo Koons, Oscar Curto

Weight: Victor Melgar

Hammer: Aaron Corcoles, Magno Llopis

Decathlon: Jesus Gonzalez, Hugo Senent

5000m march: Cesar Hidalgo, Pablo Zarate

WOMEN

100 m: Helen Arrazola, Sara Navarro

800m: Maria Alduan

1500 m: Claudia Gutierrez

100m Hurdles: Emma Jimenez, Iratxe Tejero

400m Hurdles: Alain Aguerralde, Itzaso Madariaga

Obstacles 2000m long: Sabela Martinez, Nadia Soto

Height: Aitana Alonso, Zuzanna Bednarek

Pole: Noah Martinez

Length: Luna Arnas

Triple: Maria Barrios, Ana Estrella de Leon

Weight: Nerea Lopez, Andrea Njimi Tanqueu

Disk: Andrea Njimi Tankeu

Hammer: Aisha Corbacho

Javelin: Lara Iglesias, Erica Sellart

Heptathlon: Celia Fernandez, Andrea Monroy

5000m march: Gina Torres, Irene Vega