Adel Mechaal approaches the Spanish 10-kilometer record in Platja d’en Bossa

Adel Mechaal, a Moroccan-born Spanish athlete, came in Platja d’en Bossa within two seconds of breaking the Spanish record for 10,000 meters on the road, and three seconds of breaking it in the 10K Playa d’en Bossa yesterday. The competition, hosted by Club Atletismo Ibiza, was held on a very fast circuit and drew more than 200 runners from elite to common events.

Mechaal won in 27 minutes and 50 seconds, indicating that the Ibiza race has become one of the quickest 10 km races in the country and a new national reference for the distance.

Mechaal and Mayo reprimanded the Ethiopian Yerga for refusing to participate in the relays in the lead.

The Olympic athlete of the New Balance club, who achieved the second best Spanish mark in history with his spectacular performance, regretted after crossing the finish line that the lack of collaboration in the relays by the Ethiopian Berihun Yerga, who finished second, deprived him of the Spanish record, set by Toni Abada in 2018 with a record of 27:48.

After Yerga, who finished 16 seconds behind the absolute winner, Carlos Mayo completed the podium one second back after a tight sprint with the African representative, whose attitude in the race enraged the Spanish athletes. “We asked the Ethiopian athlete if he could assist us in any way, but he was more concerned with winning than with running fast. When you reach the finish line and find that you are only two seconds behind, you protest, but you have no right to complain about why he did not assist you more “, said the winner to the press.

Sarah Maria Lahti of Sweden, who finished eighth overall, won the women’s category and set the fastest time of the race in this division with 31:18, the best time in her country. The first three slots were filled by Likina Amenbaw (31:40) and Melody Julien (32:31). The long-distance race was held on a flat and fast circuit that began at the Sant Jordi racecourse and ended at the Grand Palladium hotels.