7th June 2009 11:02
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| The Portuguese women's team after bagging the team title at the European Cup 10,000m in Ribeira Brava, Portugal, on Saturday. Photos by Cirilo Borges |
While veteran Spaniard José Manuel Martinez pipped local star Rui Pedro Silva in the men's category, the Portuguese women more than made up for it as Ines Monteiro claimed the top prize and compatriot Dulce Felix finished third.
The 37-year-old Martinez not only stamped his authority by winning the race in 27:57.61 minutes, but also earned himself a place in next year's European Athletics Championships to be held in Barcelona, Spain.
The top three finishers in both the men's and women's categories earned direct qualification to Barcelona 2010.
Martinez led the pack from the start along with Rui Pedro Silva, but with 600 meters to go the Spaniard produced the winning thrust, taking a four-second advantage over the Portuguese.
But it was Silva who set the early pace, reducing the leading pack to just three from 11. Portuguese Jose Rocha kept at the heels ofthe leading duo but could never really threaten them.
'I felt very good, very strong. This is a race that I have always liked. It was great fun to turn on this incredible place thanks largely to Silva. The Iberian duel --between Spain and Portugal -- was great as usual,' said Martinez.
The Spaniard said that he will now concentrate on marathons.
'From tomorrow, when I return to Spain, I am going to train in the mountain. This was my last 10000 meters race and this victory gave me the motivation I needed to chart out my future - which I believe lies in marathons.'
The Spaniard and Rui Pedro Silva were the only ones to complete the race below the stipulated qualification mark of 28 minutes for the IAAF World Championships to be held in Berlin in August.
With two men finishing on the podium, Portugal displaced Russia as the champion team of European Cup 10,000m. The Russian team, led by Sergey Ivanov, ran a sedate race to finish second.
The women's race on the other hand produced great times as four athletes made the cut for the IAAF World Championships in Berlin.