Spain secured a remarkable silver in the team marathon at the European Athletics Championships in Munich, a milestone that elevated the national team’s standing in the overall standings just behind Germany. Poland claimed the individual victory through Alexandra Lisowska, underscoring a strong European field. The team medal marked Spain’s first podium result inside Munich 2022 and affirmed the depth of its long-distance program on the continental stage.
The quartet representing Spain on the roads consisted of Marta Galimany, Irene Pelayo, Elena Loyo, and Laura Méndez. Galimany, entering the race with a notable European profile, delivered the strongest Spaniard performance, finishing 14th overall in 2:31:14, just two minutes and thirty-nine seconds behind Lisowska who took the individual title. At 36, Galimany demonstrated durability and tactical savvy, running with purpose throughout the event and contributing a critical leg to the team’s low combined time.
Pelayo followed closely, crossing the line in 2:33:15 to place sixteenth, while Loyo clocked 2:34:56 for thirty-fifth place, both posting season-best marks that highlighted their peak form at this major championship. Méndez finished as the fourth Spaniard in the field with a 2:39:15, and her performance helped solidify Spain’s position in the team competition, where only the top three times from each country counted toward the final score. The Spanish squad used a strategy that balanced individual strengths with collective pacing, ensuring a competitive team time that contrasted sharply with the German trio’s strong performance at 7:28:48.
From the gun, Lisowska and her pursuers set a blistering pace, forging an early lead group that gradually narrowed as the kilometers accumulated. By the time the decisive moment arrived, only four athletes remained in contention for the medals, and Lisowska seized the moment to secure a decisive advantage that would eventually translate into a gold medal, while the Spanish runners maintained steady splits and navigated the course with resolve.
The victory by Lisowska stood out in a race that demanded not only speed but resilience. The competition tested athletes across a demanding course, and Lisowska’s final surge provided a fitting backdrop to a dramatic finish. Lithuania, Germany, and the Netherlands also fielded strong teams, with Dutch runner Nienke Brinkman earning bronze after a sprint finish that outpaced her German counterparts, underscoring the tightly packed field and the razor-thin margins that define relay-style long-distance team events.
Pelayo, now at 42 years old, demonstrated remarkable endurance and consistency, distinguishing herself as one of the event’s most enduring competitors. Her performance contributed to Spain’s ability to place high in the overall standings and underscored the value of experience in championship racing. The team’s collective effort, spearheaded by Galimany’s leadership on the course, showcased the capacity of Spain to compete with Europe’s best over the marathon distance in a championship environment.
In the broader context of the European Championships, Spain’s runners showed not only their current form but also potential for future campaigns. The depth of the squad suggests a robust pipeline of athletes capable of contesting podium positions in subsequent international meetings. The race highlighted strategic elements such as pacing, altitude preparation, and course familiarity, with the Spanish team having prepared for the event through a blend of sea-level training and high-altitude conditioning in Font Romeu, a plan that helped maintain stamina and strength across the demanding Munich course.
The team results, based on the aggregation of the fastest three finishes from each nation, reflected a well-coordinated approach to major championship running. Spain’s 7:39:25 team time placed them second overall, narrowly behind Germany’s combined effort, while Poland’s strong showing secured third place behind the triumph of Lisowska. The competition demonstrated the depth and competitiveness of European women’s marathon running, with athletes delivering strong performances across both individual and team dimensions.
The event also marked a historic moment for Pelayo, who became the oldest Spanish athlete to compete in the European Championships marathon, surpassing previous records and exemplifying the longevity that remains possible for elite distance runners. This milestone added a narrative of perseverance to a race that was already defined by strategic teamwork and individual excellence, and it resonated with fans and fellow competitors alike, celebrating the enduring spirit of long-distance racing.