Two out of two for the only two Girona representatives on the first day of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. The two Spanish champions of the 1,500 meters, Esther Guerrero and Adel Mechaal qualified for the semifinals of this event, which will be contested tomorrow.
The first to get into action was Esther Guerrero in the morning session. Banyolina could not slow down the pace and had to grind her teeth to get an automatic classification. The middle distance runner was sixth, the last position that ensured the pass, in the second series. The New Balance Team athlete stopped the clock in 4:04.33. Victory in his race went to Kaith Kipyegon (4:02.62). The Kenyan is one of the main favorites to win gold in the 1,500. At the moment, in this distance he already has two Olympic golds, two world golds and a world silver.
Guerrero will compete in the second semi-final tomorrow (17:17, Teledeporte and Eurosport) with the desire to advance to the final. During the Spanish Championship he already recognized that it would be very difficult to be able to access the final. He will have to do a very good race and catch any of the places that may be over four minutes. His personal best is 4:02.41. I should try to get a similar record so I can have some choice.
Adel Mechaal’s turn did not come until the afternoon session. The man from Palamos arrived at the appointment with high morale after winning the sprint and the final stretch of the Spanish Championships in Mo Katir a few weeks ago. Mechaal did not fail in the first heat of the men’s category and qualified for the semi-finals (tomorrow, 17:30, Teledeporte and Eurosport). Fourth, and therefore among the first six to have the pass secured, the one from Baix Empordà set a mark of 3:34.35. The record was the 10th best of all the series contested and gives hope for a ticket to the final.
In the semi-finals, there will also be two more representatives of the Spanish delegation, Mo Katir and Mario García Romo. The athlete of Moroccan descent was second in the third series (3:34.34), while the man from Salamanca won the second race with a time of 3:46.77.
Among the leading contenders for a place in the men’s 1,500 final are Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, heats best (3:33.94) and Olympic gold in the 1,500 among many other titles, or Kenyan runners, Abel Kipsang and Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot. British Josh Kerr or American Yared Nuguse cannot be ruled out either.
2023-08-19 19:34:18
#Adel #Mechaal #Esther #Guerrero #semifinals #1500m #World #Championships #Budapest
