Spain could have two good medal options in the Paris 2024 mixed relay march

The level of Spanish walking does not stop growing and the Spanish Championships held on Sunday in Zaragoza left behind world-class performances with five months to go before the Paris 2024 Games open. Cristina Montesinos (1994) and Paul McGrath (2002) were the winners of the 20km event, the only distance to be Olympic in the individual format in the French capital. The second walking test will be a new one mixed relay pair (42,195km) to replace the classic 50km or 35km endurance test.

Cristina Montesinos Taking advantage of the two-time world champion’s absence due to injury Maria Perez to impose his law at 20km and show that his fifth place at 35km at the World Championships in Budapest was no fluke. The Catalan, who was looking for victory and the Olympic minimum (1h29’20), achieved his goal with excellence by winning with a time of 1h28’43 and earning a place for the Games. Behind the Catalan came Laura Garcia-Caro (1h29’03) and Rachel Gonzalez (1h29’07), both also below the required Olympic minimum. Montesinos is one of the athletes awarded in 40th Gala of the Champions Valors Trophy 2023 World of sports.

For its part, the Catalan Paul McGrath He does have the opposition of a double World champion Alvaro Martin and he was able to defeat him in the Aragonese capital. McGrath, still in the under-23 category, stopped the clock in an amazing 1h17’56, an Olympic minimum (1h20’10) and a direct ticket to the Games. The Extremaduran crossed the finish line second in 1h18’34 and third Diego García Carrera with 1h19’35, both below the Olympic minimum.

With these results, Spain will travel to Paris with Alvaro Martin and Paul McGrath in the men’s 20km event and included Maria Perez and Cristina Montesinos in the feminine. In addition, in both events a third participant can be added, but the competition will be fierce to get that place due to the high level of Spanish walking. Diego García Carrera and Alberto Amezcua, third and fourth classified in Zaragoza, reached below the Olympic minimum and clear opponents who are in the French capital. In the women’s test the same thing happened to Maria Perez and Cristina Montesinos almost classified and with Laura Garcia-Caro and Rachel Gonzalezboth have experience at the international level and have minimum requirements in their power.

And with all this on the table, it remains to be determined the configuration of the two teams that Spain can have in the Olympic mixed relay event – after qualification through Antalya World Team Walking Championships (Turkey) of April 21 -. A dream team could be the one formed by two two-time world champions Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez, a duo to aspire to all. Team B may have been formed by the two Spanish 20km champions, Paul McGrath and Cristina Montesinos, who showed a performance that will also allow us to dream of a medal. The RFEA must carefully study the real options of the Spanish walkers to decide which runners it will participate in each of the two modalities and if it will allow all its walkers to double or only those that guarantee better options. There are many unknowns that need to be cleared in the next two months. The first real test will come on March 10 with the celebration of International Mixed Relay Criterium in Valencia. A real test to test the keys in this new format, which will be held in four stages on a 42.195km route. In Antalya, Spain will present 3 relay pairs in search of two qualifying places which is the most each country can have – in total 44 pairs will qualify. There are very strong countries with great traditions in the area that can show very competitive teams like Italy Massimo Stano, Francesco Fortunato, Antonella Palmisano, Eleonora Giorgi or Japan with two references such as Toshikazu Yamanishi, Koki Ikeda, Nanako Fuji and Ayane Yanai.

The mixed test of Games in Paris will argue with Wednesday August 7 at 07:30 am, six days after the test was administered. 20km individual in Thursday August 1. Both are held on the same route at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, in the heart of Paris. Spain He will be one of the main favorites to fight for medals in any of the events thanks to the great talent he can display in each modality.