The Spanish hurdling trio of Quique Llopis, Asier Martínez, and Abel Jordán has made history by securing a triplet of finalists at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn. Llopis finished second in his semifinal, while Martínez and Jordán took fourth place in their respective heats, advancing to the final with the two best times. The final is set to take place tonight at 21:53, with Llopis, in particular, emerging as a strong contender for the medals following his impressive fourth-place finish at the 2024 World Championships in Glasgow.
The first semifinal was a nail-biting affair, with French athlete Wilhem Belocian and Llopis locked in a fierce battle, running neck and neck in lanes four and five. Although the Valencian got off to a flying start, he ultimately fell short, as Belocian claimed victory with a season’s best time of 7.44. Llopis, who had beaten Belocian twice at the World Indoor Tour Gold in Madrid just a week ago, finished a mere hundredth of a second off the Spanish record, which he shares with Orlando Ortega, with a time of 7.48.
In the same heat, Dutch athlete Job Geerds secured third place and direct qualification for the final with a personal best of 7.54, relegating Martínez to fourth place with a time of 7.56, his second-best time this season. However, Martínez’s performance was enough to earn him a spot in the final, where he will join his compatriots. Notably, Martínez’s time would have been sufficient to secure a podium finish in previous competitions, underscoring the exceptional level of competition at the European Indoor Championships.
Meanwhile, Abel Jordán, the youngest of the Spanish hurdlers, has achieved a remarkable feat by qualifying for the final despite being considered an outsider. Jordán, who will also compete in the 60-meter dash tomorrow, demonstrated his prowess by finishing fourth in his heat with a time of 7.58, the second-best performance of his career. Running in lane one, Jordán had no visual reference points, but he maintained a strong pace throughout the race, ultimately finishing just shy of the podium.
The heat was won by Polish athlete Jakub Szymanski, the current European leader with a time of 7.39, who clocked 7.49, level with French athlete Just Kwaou-Mathey. Belgian athlete Michael Obasuyi took third place with a time of 7.55. Jordán’s impressive performance is a testament to his dedication and hard work, and his qualification for the final is a significant achievement for the young athlete.
A New Challenge for Fátima Diame
Fátima Diame, the Valencian long jumper, has also secured a spot in the final, achieving her season’s best with a leap of 6.59 meters. Diame, who won bronze at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow last year, advanced to the final with the seventh-best mark, as the top contenders, including German athlete Malaika Mihambo, sailed through the qualification round. Notably, Diame achieved this feat while competing with her non-dominant left leg, due to an edema in her right heel, which she normally uses for jumping. Her coach, Iván Pedroso, must be pleased with her adaptability, as Diame had already shown her ability to jump with her left leg at the National Championships in Gallur. Unfortunately, fellow Spanish athlete Irati Mitxelena failed to advance, finishing 15th with a best jump of 6.28 meters.
As the competition heats up, fans can expect exciting performances from these talented athletes. With their unique stories and achievements, Llopis, Martínez, Jordán, and Diame are sure to captivate audiences and make the European Indoor Championships an unforgettable event. Will they be able to bring home the medals and make their country proud? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – they have already made a lasting impression on the world of athletics.