Alex Trelinski
SPAIN won their second gold medal of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday when Maria Perez and Alvaro Martin were victorious in the first-ever 42kms mixed marathon race walking relay.
They had a 51-second buffer over the Ecuadorians Glenda Morejon and Daniel Pintado, with the Australian pairing of Jemima Montag and Rhydian Cowley coming third.
It was the second medal of the Games for the Spaniards after Perez from Extremadura got silver in the 20kms walk and Andalucia’s Martin secured bronze at the same distance.
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Maria Perez joined the back of leading pack halfway through the race, but when Alvaro Martin took over he hit the front positions.
The Olympic champion of the men’s event, Daniel Pintado, started to push away, but Martin followed him closely, and in the final metres of his section, he took a slight lead.
Perez then took over again and soared away from her rival Glenda Morejon.
The Spanish duo are the country’s top athletes and have European and World championship titles to their name.
Maria Perez said: “We deserved this medal and we are the only ones to have won the triple crown, so tonight we will have the freedom of Paris!”.
Her partner, Alvaro Martin commented: “We have competed like wild boars”.
The medal ceremony will take place on Thursday.
Spain’s only other gold medal- so far- came last Friday at the Marseille Marina in the 49er sailing.
It was secured by Diego Botin and Trittel Paul.
