Domínguez breaks Spanish record at European Athletics Permit Meeting in Barcelona – European Athletics (EAA) – NEWS

Reigning SPAR European Cross Country Champion Marta Domínguez add the Spanish Women's 3,000m Steeplechase record to her impressive list of accolades with a run of 9:21.76 at the Mitin de Atletismo Ciutat de Barcelona, a European Athletics Permit Meeting, on Saturday.

Domínguez was making only her second race over the barriers after her debut in Huelva last month.

"After this race, I'm not discounting anything at the Olympic Games, not even a medal. I still need to improve my technique over the barriers but this has given me a lot of confidence," said the delighted 2002 and 2006 European 5,000m Champion, after finishing second behind Kenya's Eunice Jepkorir.

Domínguez and Jepkorir, the second fastest woman in the world this year, were quickly clear of the rest of the field and the local favourite doggedly tracked her African rival until the bell, before having to concede defeat.

Jepkorir went on to win in 9:18.76. "I couldn't keep up with her at that point but I finished the race feeling as though there was still a lot more to come," added Domínguez, who is the fastest European this year that doesn't wear a Russian vest.

Along with Domínguez's record, there were also a host of Spanish victories for the 7,000-strong crowd to cheer as international athletics returned to the historic 1992 Olympic stadium after a break of eight years.

Discus Thrower Mario Pestano produced an outstanding series with four throws over 67 metres topped by his first round effort of 68.40m, which was just shy of his two month-old national record of 68.61m.
 
"Each day I'm getting sharper and sharper ahead of the Olympics. I was very happy with this result because on Friday I did a heavy workout in the weights room and was actually a little tired here," reflected the affable thrower from Tenerife.

Juan Carlos Higuero, the second fastest European over 1,500m this year was hoping to go under 3:33 again, but settled for stepping on the accelerator and sprinting away from his closest opponents down the home straight before finishing in 3:34.51.

"The first two laps were a little irregular and a little too fast and the wind was also blowing too hard in during this race for me to really be able to run any faster. With about a lap to go, I decided to just use my kick from close to home. Despite the fact that there were some other good guys in the race, I believed in my ability," said Higuero.

Other impressive Spanish victories which drew an enthusiastic response came from Nuria Fernandez, who won the Women's 1,500m in 4:07.26; Jackson Quiñonez sped to victory in the the Men's 110m Hurdles in 13:41 and High Jumper Javier Bermejo, who was the only man clear at 2.27m.

Europe's sprinters haven't really got into gear yet over 200m but Portugal's double European Sprint Champion, Francis Obikwelu, gave the rankings a veneer of respectability with his run of 20.46 that makes him the fastest European of the year in only his second race at the distance in 2008.

Spanish Long Jumper Luis Meliz couldn't count himself among the winners but he had three jumps over eight metres and his fourth round mark of 8.15m earned him second place behind Cuba's Ibrahim Camejo, who twice leapt 8.19m. His performance made him the sixth best European this year.

Another man to slot into number six place on the 2008 European rankings is Spanish 800m runner Miguel Quesada, who finished fourth in a personal best of 1:45.58 in a race won by Morocco's Amine Laalou in 1:44.85.

Looking beyond the continental boundaries, the best performance from a global perspective came from Jamaica's Veronica Campbell, who won the 200m in 21.98, a time only she has beaten this year.

There was also an enthralling Women's Triple Jump competition won by Cameroon's reigning Olympic champion Francoise Mbango with 14.95m. Greece's 2008 world leader Hristopiyi Devetzi, who took the silver medal behind Mbango on home soil four years ago, had to settle for third on this occasion with a wind-assisted 14.77m.

European Athletics  (EAA)