The first day of the World Cups in Budapest centers on Spain’s strong medal possibilities, set in a hot, humid morning at 8:50 am. The focus is on the men’s 20-kilometer race walk, with current European champion Álvaro Martín, former continental runner-up Diego García, and 2022 Spanish champion Alberto Amezcua present to shoulder hopefuls for a podium across the day.
Relating to
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The big duels of the World Cup in Budapest
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Six international stars of the World Athletics Championships
Álvaro Martín: “I’m coming to the World Cup in the best way possible”
From Extremadura, Álvaro Martín enters the competition with one of the year’s top marks in the 1,500-meter distance. The field includes China’s Jun Zhang, Brazil’s Caio Bonfim, Japan’s Koki Izeda, Ecuador’s David Hurtado, Australia’s Declan Tingay, and other leading athletes who have posted fast times this season. The Spaniards’ 2023 bests include 1:19:25 for García and 1:20:24 for Amezcua.
The event marks the opening for the first World Cup medals in Budapest, continuing into the morning session. In the men’s 3,000 meters steeple qualifying, two Spaniards appear ready to push into finals, including the national champion Dani Arce and Víctor Ruiz, who is positioned well to contend for a top-five finish.
With a standout 8:10.63 registered at a Diamond League meet in Paris, Arce starts his series at 11:35, aiming for a strong performance close to world-class times. He competes alongside Kiprop Koech and Getnet Wale, with other rivals from Africa and Europe nearby on the pace. Ruiz races at 12:05, facing a field including Lamecha Girma and Miura, among others.
At 12:25, the women’s long jump advances to a triple-row format. Fátima Diamé leads Group B, while the young Tessy Ebosele (21) and Maria Vicente (22) are also in contention for a final slot next season.
Six meters and eighty centimeters are needed to reach the final or to stay in the running via a playoff. Diamé has jumped 6.81 this season; Ebosele and Vicente have also shown strong marks, with Vicente reaching a personal best of 6.80. This year’s best jumps include seven meters achieved by a select few, including Ackelia Smith, Tara Davis-Wollowhall, Jasmine Moore, and Jazmin Sawyers.
Fatima Diamé is determined to secure a place in the long jump final
The morning session closes with a dramatic women’s competition at 1:15 pm, featuring three athletes and 1,500 qualifiers in the women’s category where the top six from each series advance. Esther Guerrero posted a strong mark in the second series, while Faith Kipyegon and Águeda Marqués also show potential to advance. The afternoon session continues with the men’s 1,500 meters, where the format moves away from timing-based classification to outright racing across four series, with the top six from each advancing to the next round.
The national champion Adel Mechaal opens his run at 7:02 pm in the early evening, amid a field that includes Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Mario García Romo. Mechaal is expected to deliver a high-caliber performance, chasing a top finish of the season, while Katir aims to challenge for podium placement with personal best efforts in the mix.
Meanwhile, rising talents such as Yasiel Sotero, a 21-year-old junior champion, face the challenge of breaking through to the senior album. Veterans like Pestano and Casañas bring experience, with Martínez close behind in the pecking order.
Overall, the day in Budapest highlights the depth of the Spanish squad as it eyes early medals and a strong start to a demanding meeting, with a blend of young talent and seasoned competitors shaping the narrative for the rest of the event.