The Spanish team, subscribed to the fourth place

Things get complicated for him. Spanish athletics after wasting two other good medal options in the European Indoor Track in Istanbul. Esther Guerrero (1,500m) and Oscar Husillos (400m) they are close to adding their first national medal after finishing fourth in their respective finals. Some results already, added to the fourth place also of Jesus Gomez (1,500m) on the second day, they leave all the work to be done for this Sunday, the last day of the competition.

Esther Guerrero shot the pole in the 1,500m final and narrowly missed out on the coveted medal. The Catalan controlled the race at all times from the front positions, aiming to minimize risks and be attentive to the moves of the favourites. Guerrero finished in fourth place with 4’04”86, her best mark ever indoors -catalan record- but not enough to break through to the podium led by the number one favorite, Laura Muir. The British added his seventh European title, his fifth on the indoor track and showed he has no rival at a continental level. “This is my best performance in a European and I am very happy. The main goal was to feel competitive again and I achieved it”, said Guerrero after spending a very difficult year due to injuries. For his part, also did by Águeda Marqués to beat her personal best of 4’08”72, to finish seventh.

Óscar Husillos was left without an award after completing a great winter season. “Going out on street two changes everything,” he warned before facing the final. Overconfident in the semi-finals, Belgium’s Julien Watrin took second place from him and found himself relegated to running inside the Ataköy Arena track, where tight corners got in the way. to him for performing at his level. The man from Palencia left empty-handed with a bitter fourth position with 46”24. “This result leaves me with a bitter feeling for the expectations I set for myself,” he said. “I have given the maximum I have. I wanted to get to the last 100m with options, but the effort you make on the inside lanes is not the same as on the outside ones and I have paid for it”, he assured. The winner and great dominator of the test was Karsten Warholm, who gave no chance to his rivals with his wild stride (45’35). Husillos still has an option to get a medal with the 4×400 relay in the final this Sunday (5:10 pm, Teledeporte).

Lorea Ibarzabal enters the 800 final (6:35 pm) after qualifying with great feelings in her international debut with the national team. “Except for Hodgkinson, we are all equal and anything can happen in the final. You have to keep dreaming and fight for everything”, said the Madrid woman with confidence. The men’s final also included Adrián Ben, who won in his semi with 1’46″82 and will be part of the eight athletes who will fight for medals (18:22). Jorge Ureña will face the final day as the seventh classified with 813 points in the absence of 60 hurdles, pole vault and 1,000m.

Mechaal, main asset in the last day

The Spanish balance in Istanbul is very difficult and this Sunday there will be four good options to avoid leaving empty. The last time Spain did not win a medal in an indoor continental event was in 1984 in Gothenburg. Adel Mechaal This will be one of the main tricks in the 3,000, where he will have to face the plugged-in Jakob Ingebrigtsen. There will be 15 riders in the final and Mechaal will start with a personal best of all. Another good option would be Quique Llopis in the 60 hurdles (semis 08:43, final 19:05). The Valencian will start with the second best score in Europe among all the participants (7’48) and will arrive with confidence having won the Nacional de Madrid before Asier Martínez. You will also have your options to get to the podium jamie guerra in length (8:12h). Only four athletes have flown over 8 meters this season and the Catalan has the third best mark with 8.08m. In the final of the 4×400 relay there will be six countries and Spain one of the three podium places will be sought. The team that can field the national team will be key, with a tired Husillos and an Iñaki Cañal out of action due to injury.