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Husillos takes aim at a European medal after a record-breaking opener

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Oscar Husillos only moved up from the 200m to the 400m last season but the 24-year-old has already claimed ownership of some long-standing Spanish records and he looks poised to challenge the record books again in 2018.

His season’s opener might have gone under the radar but the performance deserves some kudos. Not only did Husillos break Bruno Hortelano’s Spanish indoor record over 300m by over one second with 32.39 in Salamanca on Saturday, his time was also faster than the 31-year-old Spanish outdoor record of 32.56.

Only Czech Republic’s Pavel Maslak has run faster indoors - among European athletes - over the distance with 32.15 and Husillos will clash with the reigning world and European indoor champion on home soil over 400m in Madrid next month.

'The truth is that I did not expect to run so fast. I was talking to my coach about a simple race ahead of upcoming competitions but I am more than happy for this mark and to break the Spanish record,” Husillos told MARCA after setting the record.

'It must be said that my legs failed me a little bit in the last few metres; we are still not 100% of the season but I'm more than satisfied and I did not expect this huge mark.”

Husillos is planning a full indoor season and he already has one Spanish record to his name from one race in 2018. His national indoor 400m record of 45.96 looks due for revision this winter and he will be a key part of their resurgent 4x400m team - known affectionately as the Spanish Beatles - at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham.

Husillos was part of the Spanish team which finished fifth at the IAAF World Championships in London last year in an outdoor record of 3:00.65 and head relay coach Toni Puig reckons the foursome can shave at least three seconds off the 15-year-old domestic indoor record of 3:06.60.

But it is outdoors - and individually - where Husillos is aiming to make an impact. His upturn in form over the last twelve months is such he believes a medal in the 400m at the Berlin 2018 European Athletics Championships is more than just a mere pipedream come August.

'I know it is a very ambitious goal but I dream of fighting for a medal at the European Championship in Berlin,” he said. “I am also attracted by the idea of going under 45 seconds and breaking the Spanish record outdoors.”

Husillos is getting close to that mark which has stood to Cayetano Cornet at 44.96 since 1989. Husillos improved to 45.14 in his first season in the event last year and he only looks set to run faster this summer.

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More information on the 2018 European Championships:

- The Berlin 2018 European Athletics Championships will be part of the first multi-sport European Championships along with co-hosts Glasgow.

- It will be a must-watch, must-attend experience that elevates the status of European Champions, uniting existing European Championships to celebrate the highest honour in European sport and celebrating the defining moments that create Champions.

- It is the continent’s ultimate multi-sport event, an 11-day celebration of European sport staged every four years.

- Seven of Europe’s leading sports (athletics, aquatics, rowing, golf, cycling, gymnastics, triathlon) will be brought together for the first edition.

- The European Athletics Championships in Berlin will be staged 7-12 August. The six other sports will be staged in Glasgow through 2-12 August.

- 4500 athletes and 52 nations will compete across the seven sports.

- Potential TV audience of over one billion with millions more across multiple digital platforms.

- Over half a million spectators expected.





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