Rome, June 9 (EFE).- The Spanish Jorge González, eleventh in the half marathon of the Europeans in Rome, assured after the test that he knew he could perfectly enter the top 20 and revealed that he is already preparing for a marathon.
Spain, with a team made up of Jorge González Rivera, Carlos Mayo, Yago Rojo, Jorge Blanco, Ibrahim Chakir and Javier Guerra, was one step away from the team bronze medal with fourth place, since the German Filimon Abraham, who entered twenty-second, allowed the German team to climb to the third place on the podium by also having Amanal Petros (third) and Samuel Fitwi (fifth) classified ahead.
The best Spaniard was the debutant Jorge González, who was eleventh with 1:01:55, a personal best. Behind, Carlos Mayo in 14th place (1h02:12), Yago Rojo in 17th (1h02:37), the veteran Javi Guerra in 24th (1h03:17), Jorge Blanco in 30th (1h04:09) and Ibrahim Chakir in the 39th (1h05:00), who had to be treated by medical services upon reaching the finish line.
“Very happy, I came to fight for everything and that’s how it was. I came out brave from the beginning, although it is true that it was a race with many changes from km 12 onwards and I tried to stay back and relax until they slowed down and join again,” he told EFE in the mixed zone after the race.
“I was like that until km 18, but they made the final change and I couldn’t do it anymore,” he added.
González’s feelings were unbeatable: “I already knew that here was the highest level ever in a European Championship, but I also knew that I was aiming to finish among the top 20.”
“Now I’m going to go on vacation for a week, but I told my coach the idea of preparing for a marathon and it will most likely debut in November.”
González was able to share the court and team with Javi Guerra, in what could have been his last major tournament.
“It has been fantastic to share this with him, he has been a roommate and I keep his advice. Since I was little I saw him fight, when there were no carbon plates, against the Africans in the Seville marathon and he has always been my example to follow “González stated. EFE
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