Mohamed Attaoui, exhibition and Olympic ticket in 800

The Cantabrian Mohamed Attaoui was announced this Sunday Spanish 800 meters champion with a great exhibition on the track of the Olympic Stadium of Camilo Cano Sports City in La Nucía (Alicante), where he also won Lorea Ibarzabalwho reaffirmed his national crown from afar.

Attaoui He came to the national championship after winning a silver medal at the last European Championship in Rome and became the new national record holder in the 1000 meters. His goal was to win the first absolute title, something he achieved with great superiority.

The Cantabrian started the race at the back and let his rivals show their cards, especially Mariano García, who from the start wanted to set the pace and even tried unsuccessfully to open a gap after passing the 500 meters.

Attaoui waited for his chance and, at the last corner, with two hundred meters to go, he opened up to overtake his rivals, take the lead and enter the finish line alone with a large gap to his pursuers. He stopped the clock 1:45.03.

Second is the Spanish Honduran origin Elvin Joshua Canales, who 48 hours earlier had received permission from World Athletics to compete in Spain at an international level. In his case, the last sprint made him second (1:45.53)with only two hundred differences in Galician Adrian Ben (1:45.55), which is third. The two aim to be Attaoui’s teammates at the Paris Games.

The Murcian is fourth Mariano Garciaindoor world champion and European outdoor champion, both in 2022, who did 1:45.92 and will not repeat the title achieved in this same setting in 2019.

In the women’s category, Lorea Ibarzabal revalidated his title after starring in a great finish in the final hundred meters, stopping the clock 2:00.12championship record.

Her training partner, young Daniela García, 22 years old, repeated as the overall runner-up with 2:00.83, after being overtaken in the final hundred meters by Lorea.

Lucía Pinacchio, champion in 2022, finished third with 2:01.16.