Peleteiro aims to find back the path to medals in Madrid

Ana Peleteiro returns to action in the final stage of World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold. The current European triple jump indoor champion aims to get back in her best shape after taking a break last summer due to Covid-19 pandemic and the postponement of the Olympics. Next 24 February in Madrid she will lead a Spanish top-class field which also includes in-shape hurdler Teresa Errandonea, super talented heptathlete María Vicente and finest national female athlete of 2020, Esther Guerrero.

Crowned as European champion two years ago with a lifetime best jump of 14.73m, 25-year-old Ana Peleteiro sets sights on the Olympics, where the women’s triple jump will be one of the hardest events to medal at – excluding world indoor record holder Yulimar Rojas, 13 women have leaped over 14.50m since January 2019.

Before the Olympic Games, the Spanish-woman will try to retain her European indoor title in Torun, though she will need to get in shape fast. Earlier this season, Peleteiro has only jumped 13.85m in Karlsruhe and 13.89m in Barcelona.

Anyway, Gallur Municipal Sports Center’s track brings good memories to the Spanish record holder. Back in 2019, Peleteiro jumped 14.37m just before claiming the gold medal in Glasgow. One year earlier in Madrid she had tied her indoor best of 14.08m on her way to win the bronze medal at 2018 World Indoor Championship with a 14.37m leap.

The women’s triple jump has a strong tradition at the Meeting Villa de Madrid indoor, with Yulimar Rojas breaking the world record last year with a leap of 15.43m.

Madrid-born Patricia Sarrapio will say goodbye to Gallur as she will retire at the end of 2021 outdoor season – on this track she tied her longest ever indoor jump in 2018, when she leaped 14.07m. 24-year-old Fátima Diame, a long jump specialist with a TJ personal best of 13.82m, will complete the Spanish line-up in the contest.

Undoubtedly, Esther Guerrero was the finest Spanish female athlete in 2020. Just started in her 30’s, the former 800m-specialist set a 1500m indoor best of 4:07.47 at Meeting Villa de Madrid – which ranked her 4^th in the national all-time list. Then the Covid-19 hit the world, but after a two-months lockdown Guerrero came back even faster – clocking 4:03.13 in 1500m and breaking the 2-minute barrier (1:59.22) for the first time in her career in 800m, marks which ranked her 3^rd and 5^th in the Spanish all-time list.

Additionally, the Catalonian-athlete won a historic 800-1500m double at Spanish National Championship in Madrid, achieved for the last time in 1976. At Madrid21, Guerrero may become the second Spanish athlete ever to hit sub2 in 800m indoors. Lorena Martín is also entered in the race.

Three other Spanish-women will contest in middle-distance events on 24 February at Gallur Municipal Sports Center. In the 1500m, 2018 Spanish indoor champion Marta Pérez will take on her predecessor Solange Pereira, who won the title three years in a row from 2015 to 2017. Pérez has an indoor personal best of 4:07.37, the 3^rd fastest ever recorded by a Spanish athlete, set at 2020 Meeting Villa de Madrid.

Training partners Errandonea and Vicente take on in the 60m hurdles

Teresa Errandonea excelled at 2020 Meeting Villa de Madrid indoor as she was 3^rd in the 60m hurdles setting a personal best of 8.00. With that time, she became the fastest Spanish-born to run the distance and was ranked 3^rd in the national all-time list. Earlier that evening she had set another impressive PB of 8.04. This winter Errandonea, who barely competed last summer, is very close to her top shape – she has gone five times under 8.20 and took the victory in Gent with an 8.13 season best.

At Madrid21 Errandonea will clash her training partner María Vicente. After winning gold at U18 World Championship (heptathlon), U18 European Championship (heptathlon and triple jump) and U18 European Championship (heptathlon) the young starlet is on her way to succeed at senior stage. The 19-year-old already owns the Spanish national records in heptathlon (6115 pts) and pentathlon (4412 pts) and is the long jump leader this season (6.55m). In 2021 Vicente has set five indoor personal bests – in 200m, 800m, long jump, shot put and 60m hurdles (8.30). She will compete in Madrid in this event, alongside her fellow compatriot Carmen Sánchez (8.29).

Pole vaulters Andrea San José, Malen Ruiz de Azua and Mónica Clemente complete the Spanish field at the Meeting Villa de Madrid. San José set a 4.42m personal best two weeks ago which ranked her 4^th in the Spanish all-time list just ahead Ruiz de Azua’s 4.41m.