Spanish options to podium in Ironman Kona in GGEE

In the following article we will talk about the Spanish options to get podium in the Kona in their age groups, which in the case of the Ironman World Championship are 5 those who go on the podium.

Al Ironman World Championship from Hawaii go the best PROs and GGEE in the world. In an earlier chapter of our "Special Kona 2018 " we counted how the classification of Spanish professionals who will compete in Kona.

For its part in GGEE every time the level is higher, there are more tests and more triathletes looking for their "slot" for Hawaii.

A few days ago in our "Special Kona 2018" we presented you with the list of all the Spaniards that will compete in the Ironman World Championship, listing them by category and showing the dorsal that they will have in competition, both the PROs and the GGEE.

In the following article we will talk about the Spanish options to get podium in the Kona in their age groups, which in the case of the Ironman World Championship are 5 those who go on the podium. Last year they were David Corredor (4º in 35-39) and Josep Marín (5º in 65-69). The best Spanish was Alba Reguillo who achieved the 12ª of his group, 35-39.

Recall also that only two Spaniards have been IM world champions in Age Groups: Fernando García Aja y Pedro Oviedo. Fernando won in 45-49 in 2010 and Pedro in 55-59 in 2012.

This year, Iván Álvarez returns to "Mecca" for the sixth time and will be the "captain of the GGEE Triarmada" being the main asset of the Spanish GGEE in the world. Iván already knows what it is to get on the podium he did in 2015 and in 2011 he was the best Spanish in Kona of all the participants. Iván qualified in the IM of Lanzarote, where he was 1º in 40-44.

As has happened on other occasions, the results of the Ironman Lanzarote are good reference for Kona, since who makes podium in May in "the Island" is often fighting with the best in Hawaii. In Ironman Lanzarote there were many Spaniards who won their age group.

In 18-24 it did Julen Ten, in 35-39 Xavier Torrades and in 45-49 Josu Allica The three debut in Kona but are trained to fight with the best.

Last Josep Marín, of the 65-69 age group. Josep is one of the best Spanish athletes in history, was runner-up in the world in the 50km March in 1983 and European champion in 20km in 1982. It also has 4 participation in JJOO and 5 diplomas. Last year Josep was already 5º in Kona in his debut.
As far as the girls are concerned this year there will only be two in age groups. Juana Criado in 55-59 it is presented as the great asset, not in vain was European champion in Frankfurt in his group. The other Spanish in Kona will be Leonor Font, who was 2ª in 30-34 also, in Frankfurt and despite being her debut in Kona she is able to compete with the best of her group.

Photo Julen Diez: Naike Ereñozaga / Photo Xavier Torrades: Imanol Mujika / Photo Leonor Font: Deporbrands / Photo Juana Criado: Triatlon and Running RCM / Photo Josep Marin: Facebook Iván Herruzo