The World Cup Budapest Relay setback for Spain
The Spanish squad will not take part in the relay final at the Budapest World Cup after the women’s 4×100 team was eliminated on Friday and the two men’s 4×400 squads failed to reach the semifinals on Saturday. The closing two events, contested by eight nations, produced gripping finishes that left the results hanging by a thread. A decision from World Athletics was anticipated regarding a challenge lodged by the Spanish federation, with a ruling still to be announced at the time this report was filed.
In a broader look at Spain’s relay history at major championships, the country had previously reached the men’s final of the longer relay on several occasions. The most notable moments include a runner who ended sixth in Edmonton in 2001 and Paris in 2003, later contributing to a national record of 3:00.65 in London 2017 alongside teammates Lucas Búa, Darwin Echeverry, Óscar Husillos, and Samu García. On the women’s side, the lone precedent involved a seventh-place finish in Rome 1987, achieved by Julia Merino, Blanca Lacambra, Sandra Myers, and Gregoria Ferrer. These historical highlights underline Spain’s intermittent strengths in the relay disciplines, even as recent results have not matched the podium success hoped for in Budapest.
Women’s 4×100 advances to semifinals without Maribel Pérez
During a relay session that paired Spain against the United States B team and Great Britain, the Spanish quartet opened with Iñaki Cañal delivering a solid start, while Samu García followed with a strong second leg and Bernat Erta secured a competitive third. Óscar Husillos aimed for a decisive push on the final stretch. Cañal delivered an anchor leg that helped teammates maintain a competitive pace, finishing second with a time of 45.51 as Samu García, representing the Canary Islands, kept a steady rhythm through his leg, crossing the line in 1:30.72. Erta, however, did not manage to position the team on the podium, signaling a challenging path ahead for a medal bid. The overall performance pointed to a relay that had to battle hard to keep hopes alive, but did not culminate in a necessary result for advancement.
Despite a rapid late burst by the relay squad, the time of 3:02.64 left the team in seventh as the heat concluded. The federation voiced concerns about how the finish was executed, noting that a formal reclassification could still alter the final standings. The outcome emphasized the delicate nature of relay races, where small margins at the exchange can determine whether a team moves on or heads home.
The women’s quartet faced more arduous conditions, hindered by a handover issue as Eva Santidrián passed to Herminia Parra. With Laura Bueno and Bárbara Camblor also falling behind, the clock stopped at 3:31.91, a result that failed to qualify the team for the next round. The competition also saw Nigeria exit the event due to a disqualification on the final leg, a reminder that the relay arena can become a minefield of technical fouls and penalties even for experienced squads. The combined effects of baton exchanges and split times created a narrative where Spain could not secure a path to the semifinals, despite the effort and commitment shown by the athletes involved.