Athletics in Ibiza and Formentera are validated

This weekend, Pitiusas athletics was vindicated with the formation of three key competitive events, all very different from one another, but all necessary to stimulate the quarry of the clubs of Ibiza and Formentera. The arrival of international and Olympic athletes for the 10K Playa d’en Bossa, with its popular aspect; the organization of the Balearic Championship of road walking by the Sa Raval club in Sant Antoni; and the celebration of the third school and federative control in Can Misses-3 have all managed to mobilize all lovers of this sport, which has been punished like the rest for months by the covid pandemic.

Jordi Cardona, the insular athletics delegate, recognizes that national athletics stars like Adel Mechaal, who was two seconds away of the Spanish record for 10,000 meters on the road, or the Santa Eulària walker Marc Tur’s performance on the island “stimulates the local runners and the younger ones.” “It is a luxury to have a race like this on the island – in reference to the 10K Playa d’en Bossa – and if it continues, it will become even more important at the national level. Athletes pay close attention to races like this” Cardona explains.

In terms of federal licenses, the insular delegate promises that “they are maintained with respect to prior years,” while he does notice a “reduction in participation” in popular races, which he blames to “fear of acquiring the coronavirus.”

Jordi Cardona also mentioned the health of Pitiusas athletics, where to referents like Marc Tur or Andrea Romero from Formentera are added others like his countryman Óscar Santos or the Ibizan Nuria Atienza, who recently achieved the minimum mark to compete in the 800 free in the absolute Spanish Championship.

Can Misses-3, Ibiza: marks in the tracks

Last Saturday, the tracks at Can Misses-3’s renovated sports facility were the scene of the third control of marks in school age, U-14 and U-18, and for the federated ‘A,’ with an impressive performance by the athletes of the Sa Raval club.

The morning’s speed was once again the best. The veteran Andrés Giménez won the absolute 60m dash with a time of 7.93 seconds, but his rookie teammate Josep Tur also raced under eight seconds (7.96). Helena Lafuente of Formentera won the women’s division with a timing of 9 seconds. Another portmany as José Gutiérrez set the best time in the 200 meters with a time of 25.22. Josep Tur, in the U-16 distance of 300 meters, and Christian Torres, in the absolute distance of 400 meters, both strove to improve. There was a higher level of participation in the women’s category. Lara Shinta Espinosa (Pitiús) won the U-14 150 meters in 22.21 seconds, while Daniela Jiménez (Formentera) won the 60 meters in 9.55 seconds. Ayu Espinosa (Pitiús) shined in the 300m under-16 race, setting a new personal best of 44.55 seconds.

Female participation was also notable in the middle-distance races. Patricia Quirós (Peña Deportiva) won the 1,000 meters absolute in 3:23.13, and Malory Anne Medel (Pitiús) won the 1,000 meters under-14 in 3:31.66, but in a close sprint against Lara Shita Espinosa. Sara Tur (Pitiús) won the 1,500 meter absolute distance in 5:29.78. Juan Carlos León, Paulo Porto, and Mauro Garca were the best in the men’s events, with few competitors.