This Saturday was one of those days to remember in Anoeta. A magical day in which there were two great protagonists: Ander … Garaiar and Irati Mitxelena. He, in his first competition after having been proclaimed European under-20 100m champion in the summer, equaled the absolute Basque record of 60 (6.73) in a very fast final in which Oihan Trecet (6.74) fought him for gold in the Gipuzkoa Championship until the last moment. She, also in her debut this season, flew up to 6.76 meters in length, her best jump to date and a mark that helps her become the Basque athlete who has gone the furthest indoors.
At 11:50 a.m., and despite still having problems with his Achilles tendon, Garaiar reappeared, now wearing the Nike elastic. The young man from Oiartzuarra, 18 years old, returned to competition at the velodrome, where he now regularly exercises. And he did it by running in 6.77 in the semifinals and beating Oihan Trecet (6.81), who had just run in December in precisely 6.77.
An hour later, in the final, they both flew. The Arditurri locomotive, with 6.73, was one hundredth better than Trecet. And, in his debut this year, he equaled the Basque record that he now shares with the San Sebastian native Valentín Rocandio (1989), who is his coach, and with the Biscayans Orkatz Beitia (1999) and Jon Gutiérrez (1999).
A big jump without a jackpot
The 6.76 meters in which Mitxelena from San Sebastián fell helped her to improve the 6.70 to which she flew in the summer in Guadalajara, weeks before competing in the outdoor World Cup in Tokyo. She also improved the 6.65 meters of María Vicente (2024), which in the Basque and Guipuzcoan all-time indoor track ranking placed her as the leader until yesterday. However, the Gipuzkoa Championship is not included in the World Athletics calendar, so the mark is not valid for international minimum purposes.
The Donosti native of Atlético San Sebastián, who has started the season at a very high level, will therefore have to continue fighting to be in the Indoor World Cup in Torun (Poland) in March. 6.75 is the direct minimum (as long as it is achieved in a competition approved for it). “I felt very comfortable,” said Mitxelena, who completed an excellent competition with jumps of 6.69 meters, 6.57 and 6.56, in addition to the already mentioned 6.76. Next week he will compete in Salamanca.
Maialen Garayartabe achieved the double in the 60 and 60 meter hurdles, John Cabang won the hurdles and Asier Añorga won the pole vault with 5.30 meters.
Worth a look
