Spain showcased three men’s 800m runners this Tuesday as they navigated the early rounds at the World Cup in Budapest. Saúl Ordóñez, Adri Ben, and Mohamed Attaoui successfully cleared the first qualifying stage in what marks a notable second plenary session in this long-standing competition history, following the momentum from Daegu 2011.
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Even though this was only the opening round, the format allowed three advancing spots per location and an additional three for the best overall times. With seven heats, reaching the semi-finals was a challenging task. The women’s program features a strong Spanish cohort this time around as well, including the national champion Lorea Ibarzabal, who clocked sub-2:00.00, European under-23 champion Daniela García, and Lorena Martín, who sought a comeback after a lengthy injury. The action is set to continue Wednesday.
In what proved to be a brisk and competitive stadium, the first Spaniard to race was Saúl Ordóñez in the third heat. Competitors Amel Tuka of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sedjati of Algeria stood out in the field. Ordóñez controlled a measured tempo, remained within striking distance, and clinched third place in 1:47.97, despite a late push from the American Harris who had already been eliminated. Kipngetich of Kenya seized the win in 1:47.63, with Sedjati finishing second in 1:47.87.
The second heat featured Adri Ben, who echoed a career path reminiscent of Yuri Borzakovsky as he climbed from the back of the pack to a dramatic finish. His start was not decisive, but after crossing the 300-meter mark he emerged from the back group and launched a powerful comeback. He secured first place with a season-best 1:45.37, demonstrating tactical savvy and a refined sprint finish. Ben’s performance reflects Galicia’s strength in major events and a knack for maximizing opportunities through intelligent racing.
On the visual side, Adri Ben presented a commanding image as he took the lead and dominated the field, a moment captured and noted in the event’s coverage.
The youngest participant was Mohamed Attaoui, making his debut at the senior level after taking silver in the 1,500 meters at the European under-23 championships. In a fiercely competitive race won by Benjamin Robert of France in 1:46.45, Attaoui stood out by finishing third in 1:46.65, trailing only Korir of Kenya and Clayton Murphy of the United States in a high-caliber field.
The road to the next round remains demanding, as the schedule lists a 20:50 start on Thursday for the upcoming semi-finals. Only the top two finishers from each heat and the next fastest times advance toward a fast-paced set of semi-finals and a final where the strongest contenders will clash, potentially shaping the outcome with a high-stakes sprint.
Looking ahead, Saúl Ordóñez, Adri Ben, and Mohamed Attaoui are expected to carry the Spanish team’s hopes into the semi-finals, with Daniela García, Lorea Ibarzabal, and Lorena Martín also in contention for Tokyo-level marks. The competition continues on Wednesday, offering another chance for the trio to cement their place in the championship’s advancing rounds and for Spain to extend its momentum across the event program. [World Athletics coverage](citation)