Angel Mullera
Angel Mullera, who won bronze at the last European Championships held last year in Zurich in the 3,000 meters steeplechase, has withdrawn from participating in the upcoming Spanish Championships in Castellon on August 1st and 2nd, and in the World Championships in Beijing, where he was one of the five Spaniards with the minimum qualification to attend.
"The personal record in the 3,000 meters and the qualification for Río 2016 Olympics mean that the season, at least, has not been in vain," explained Mullera through a statement. He believes that if he has to stop, "better this year than the next" where he will fight for a place in the Olympics.
With Mullera's withdrawal, there are four contenders with the minimum qualification for the three spots that the Spanish team can bring in the 3,000 meters steeplechase to the World Championships in Beijing: Roberto Aláiz (8:19:85), Fernando Carro (8:21:78), Sebastián Martos (8:22:38), and Abdelaziz Merzougui (8:26:34), plus the possible inclusion of Víctor García, bronze medalist in the 2012 European Championships in Helsinki, who will seek the qualification time to be in Beijing on Saturday in London, as part of the Diamond League.