If there is a couple in the national athletics that perfectly embodies the motto -'Pasión for competing– of which the Federation presumes for years that is the one that make up Águeda Marqués and Adrián Bentwo of the struts of the Spanish team for the European team of this week at the Vallehermoso stadium in Madrid.
The Segovian and the Lucense will be our representatives in 1,500, coinciding for the first time in the same distance in the absolute category – in the European sub'23 of 2019 in Gävle (Sweden) they already participated both in the 'milqui'–. Both were already in the last edition of this championship, in Chordów 2023, but then 'Adry' ran 800 and Águeda on 5,000.
Right now I am more motivated in 1,500. It is like a new challenge in which I have an important margin to aspire to great things
For Ben, the return to his origins is a bit, because he has worked his deserved prestige in the 800 -two outdoor world -wing finals and an Olympic contemplate him – but but His debut as an absolute international occurred in the Queen of Mediafondo test, in the 2018 Berlin Europeanwith just 20 years.
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“Right now I find myself more motivated in 1,500. It is like a new challenge in which I have an important margin to aspire to great things,” confesses the Viveiro athlete, than comes from achieving a notable sixth place in the Indoor World Cup in Nanjing of last March.
In the Madrid Meeting -19, I'm going to run on 800. I think I have not yet been able to demonstrate all my potential in this test and I feel like trying fortune
That does not imply anyway that is going to leave 800, test in which he will try to do the minimum for the Tokyo World Cup next September – he has it in 1,500 -. “In the Spanish Championship I will decide on how far he wants to participate in that World Cup because 800 I still like it a lot”points out.
A distance that also tempts Marqués, The most versatile athlete of Spanish midfield according to its latest results. “In the Meeting of Madrid – July 19 – I will run the 800. It has 2:02:47 as the best record since last year.
The dream of a historical podium
But at the moment it is time to focus on this European selections in which Spain plays at home and has deposited a lot of hopes after the historic fourth place of Choróww 2023. “Finally go up to the podium? If we do not believe it … then the same ends how many or sixths but we have to fight it And to think that it is possible because in competitions there are always strong teams that click, “Ben reflects.
“And if, We have very important casualties such as Jordan (Díaz), Ana (Peleteiro) and Yulenmis (Aguilar) but the rivals also have them And athletics is not a matter of brands but what happens in a race or a specific contest during this weekend, ”adds the 2023 Indoor European champion, which has the third best brand of the 16 participants season.
Up to the podium finally? If we do not believe it … then we end up fifth or sixth but we have to fight it and think that it is possible because in competitions there are always strong teams that click
“I think there are seven athletes that we can be there, very close. It will be very difficult, I know it, but I am in my house, with my people I already priority I only sign the victory. Anyway, this is a team competition and we two run on Sunday, when there are already few tests to dispute, so it will be to make cabals. I mean that The same my career does not go to win but to be in front of the Italian or another rival and be closer to the collective podium”, Explains the Galician.
Marqués, on the other hand, admits that he drinks from the greatest experience of his partner: “He gives me more advice than me but it is normal because everything that I am living, has already happened to him, as being an Olympic finalist. After all, his career is longer than mine. ”
He gives me more advice than me but is normal because everything I am living, has already happened to him, as being an Olympic finalist. After all, his career is longer than mine
Adrián nods and adds: “It happened much worse when Águeda runs than when I run. In the Paris Games, in his semifinal, he was nervous and when I remember how I lived it with the Mr. (Arturo Martín) I still want to cry”.
“It's true. I saw it very happy despite having been eliminated that morning in the repetsca of the 800 meters and it was for me. That is very nice“, Says an excited Águeda, who ends with a sentence:” Athletics is our passion and we love to see for example the Diamond League together but we are not always talking about our work. ”
