Bezabeh to lead Spanish armada to Amman
| 19.03.2009
 |
Alemayehu Bezabeh will be the biggest Spanish hope
at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships,
to be held in Amman,
Jordan on March 29. |
Alemayehu
Bezabeh will join hands with veterans Carles Castillejo and José Luis Blanco to
spearhead Spanish charge at the 37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Amman,
Jordan on March 29.
The
Royal Spanish Athletics Federation has named a 19-member team composed of 11
athletes in senior category- six men and 5 women-and eight athletes in the
junior category -5 men and 3 women.
Up
to six athletes per category are allowed to participate, while the first four
qualify. The performance at the Spanish Championship, held in Albacete last
Sunday, was instrumental in naming the team.
In
Men's category the top six finishers made the cut, while only the top five in juniors
were shortlisted.
The women's
team includes the fourth to eighth place finishers after the first three (Rosa
Morató, Iris Fuentes-Pila and Nuria Fernández) decided to opt out of the March
29th meet.
In
the men's field Castillejo, Lamdassem and Blanco have been part of the team for
the World Championship before, while Javier López and Manolo Penas will rub
shoulders with the best for the first time.
Spanish
hopes in the women's filed rest on national champion Cristina Jordan, while the
chances of seasoned pros like Alessandra Aguilar and Jacqueline Martín can
never be discounted.
Spain Team:
SENIOR
- MEN
Alemayehu
Bezabeh, Carles Castillejo, Ayad Lamdassem, Javier López, Manolo Penas and José Luis Blanco.
SENIOR
- WOMEN
Alessandra
Aguilar, Jacqueline Martín, Judit Plá, Diana Martín, and Cristina Jordán.
JUNIOR
- MEN
Mario
Mola, Antonio Abadía, Jaime Villa, Aitor Fernández and Martín Ortiz.
JUNIOR
- WOMEN
Sandra
Mosquera, Tania Carretero, Estefanía Tobal.
Officials:
Gerardo García (
Team Manager), Alfonso Ortega, Jesús Alvarado, Oliva
Román and Carlos Alonso (
Coaches); Dr Carmen León, Ángel Basas and Isabel
Arbonés (
Physio) Jaime Samaniego (Judge)