Portugal with 2nd largest delegation ever in European indoor track
Portugal will compete in the next European Indoor Athletics Championships with the second largest delegation ever, with 16 athletes, according to the call announced today.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he delegation to Torun, Poland, stage of these Europeans, scheduled for March 5th to 7th, closed with the confirmation of minimums by the triplist Patrícia Mamona, second at the ‘meeting’ in Madrid, on Wednesday. The largest participation of Portuguese athletes took place in 2002, in Vienna, with 18 athletes, followed by four editions with 13 athletes.
Out of the list are Evelise Veiga, who failed to confirm minimums at the ‘meeting’ in Belgrade on Wednesday, and sprinters Ancuiam Lopes and Delvis Santos.
Ancuiam Lopes, who made a minimum of 60 meters in Eaubonne, France, at the end of January, did not go to the Portuguese Championships and later failed to get the ok from the FPA medical department. As for Delvis Santos, he also made the minimums at 60 meters only on Monday, the day after the date set by the Portuguese Athletics Federation.
In relation to the 16 names now confirmed, the highlight goes to Auriol Dongmo, in the launch of the weight, and Pedro Pichardo, in the triple jump, who are European leaders in their specialties.
Patrícia Mamona is the third-best in the women’s triple and Francisco Belo is the 10th of the year in the weight launch.
Of the 16 athletes in the selection, seven are from the female sector and nine from the male sector. Sporting and Benfica have the biggest ‘slice’ of the selected, only escaping the ‘wave’ of the two Lisbon clubs Mariana Machado, from Sporting de Braga, and Mauro Pereira, from Sobral da Ceira.
Two of the three big Portuguese bets for medals debut in ‘indoor’ Europeans, after becoming naturalized: Pedro Pichardo was born in Cuba and Auriol Dongmo in Cameroon. Moreover, the vast majority are newcomers (11 out of 16 athletes).
With experience in previous Europeans are Patrícia Mamona (triple), Francisco Belo (weight), Carlos Nascimento and Lorene Bazolo (60 meters) and Cátia Azevedo (400 meters).
