Former European indoor champion Adrián Ben clocked an indoor lifetime best to win the 800m at the II Meeting Internacional in Ourense on Saturday (21).
The 27-year-old Spaniard, who won gold at the Istanbul 2023 European Athletics Indoor Championships, clipped 0.25 seconds off his previous best, set last year in Madrid, to win in 1:45.14.
In his first outing over his specialist distance this year, Ben ran confidently from the gun, tucking in behind pacemaker Ryan Barcala at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Challenger event.
After moving clear at 500m, Ben pushed on with international teammate and world indoor bronze medallist Elvin Josué Canales right on his heels.
Canales made a move coming out of the final turn, but Ben had enough in the tank to maintain his form and beat the Spanish indoor record holder by 0.30 seconds. Switzerland’s Ivan Pelizza was third in 1:45.99.
Meeting records
Spain’s Naima Ait Alibou Ouahda won the women’s 1500m in a meeting record of 4:11.53, while Ireland’s Sophie Becker took the women’s 400m in 53.27.
Andrea Michelle Purica Guevara of Venezuela pipped France’s Gloria Hooper by 0.01 seconds in the women’s 60m, setting a meeting record of 7.26.
In the men’s long jump, Gerson Balde produced a final-round leap of 8.14m, but it was not quite enough to overtake winner Jorge Hodelin of Cuba. The 18-year-old secured victory with a second-round jump of 8.18m.
The women’s shot put was won by Portugal’s Eliana Bandeira with 18.13m, while the men’s pole vault was claimed by Pedro Buaró with a best clearance of 5.60m.