The women’s 800m qualifying round narrowed the field as Lorea Ibarzabal, Daniela García, and Lorena Martín fell short of advancing. The event, marked by improvements in footwear and higher stakes, unfolded as a brisk test that separated contenders by narrow performance margins. A trio of Adri Ben, Saúl Ordóñez, and Mohamed Attaoui did not echo the intensity seen in the men’s heats, which advanced to the semi-finals on Thursday.
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Lorea Ibarzabal emerged early, placing fourth in the year’s series with a time of 1:59.88. She closed the heat with a strong finish, but could not secure a final berth, ending the round at 2:06.33 while facing the high competition level. The Madrid-based athlete endured the pressure, while Keely Hodgkinson, a Briton, dominated the series with a time of 1:59.53, earning a podium finish justified by her standout performance.
Gorgeous Spanish ‘full’ in 800 men’s series
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The team felt the weight of the moment yet acknowledged the challenge ahead. The athlete admitted that nerves and pressure played a major role, along with a fatigue-plagued season and a grueling final stretch. “I didn’t have the strength. I wasn’t sure how to handle the nerves. It’s been a long season and the last few weeks have been demanding. I felt fine at the start, but the pace dragged on”, he explained to Spanish media in a candid moment from the mixed zone.
“I couldn’t sustain strength beyond 400 meters, which is disappointing for my family and supporters in the stands. I felt depleted and frustrated by not being able to contest the finish the way I wanted. The weight of this being a first World Cup appearance added to the pressure, with many eyes on me”, Ibarzabal added.
At 21, Daniela Garcia, a Balearic athlete, hoped to build on her European title and a season-best of 2:00.58, a mark that saw several rivals surpass her this year. She pushed hard but found the straightaway challenging, finishing in 2:01 in a race that included a surge from Kenya’s Mary Moraa, who crossed the line ahead in 1:59.89 for medals.
“I enjoyed the experience and it was unforgettable to be part of this competition. I wanted to keep moving forward, but the level of opponents made it tough. It was a difficult race, yet I felt strong and gave my best effort. Hopefully I can take this forward and learn for next time”, she said, speaking with calm resolve after the event.
With a cherry in one earring and a four-leaf clover on the other, the youngest member of the trio reflected on a likely season finale. She decided to rest through the final under-23 year, aiming to return with renewed energy next season, and perhaps a holiday on the horizon if the schedule allows.
Meanwhile, Lorena Martín faced a severe setback in a season hampered by a serious injury. She was closest to qualifying in the final stretch, but a late surge by Brazil’s De Lima denied clearance. Despite the setback, she finished fifth with a time of 2:01.25, a solid showing given the adversity she faced this season.
“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved this year. I started in March and here I am. I’ve had two surgeries in three years, and anything can happen from here to Paris. The three of us could have reached the semi-finals, but today’s results didn’t reflect that. I plan to race again by mid-September and would love to go under two minutes. I deserve a strong time of 1:59, especially since last year I was at 2:00.39. We’ll see how things unfold”, she remarked with candid optimism.
“The race I hoped to run was to hit 600 meters with a plan, but the energy was misallocated. I knew there would be opportunities if I stuck to that, yet the clock and the lanes had other ideas. If I could have adjusted at 650, I believe I could have finished third”, added the Salamanca athlete.
Meanwhile, American Athing Mu dispelled doubts by commanding the race. She showed mastery with a mid-pack hip height that extended her stride, mirroring the dominance shown in the triple jump by Yulimar Rojas. She won the qualifying heat in 1:59.59 and sits atop the standings as the reigning Olympic and world champion.