20.08.2008 17:30
Quiñónez through to the final
Carles Cascante
Barça athletes are flying high. Jackson Quiñónez has qualified for the 110 metre hurdles thanks to a third place finish in his semi-final. The Ecuadorian born athlete will compete in his first Olympic final.
His success, added to that of Manuel Olmedo in reaching the 800 metres final, is fantastic news for
the Barça athletics section. Quiñónez finished third in his semi-final with a time of 13.40 seconds
behind the highly fancied David Oliver (USA) and Paro Poga (Poland). In the other semi-final, the
other firm favourite Dayron Robles (Cuba) finished ahead of David Payne (USA).
First Spanish finalist in 24 years
Spanish 110 metre hurdles record holder Jackson Quiñónez is the first Spanish athlete to
reach the final of this speciality for 24 years. Javier Moracho was the first in the 1980 Moscow
Olympics while Barça’s own Carles Sala reached the final in Los Angeles in 1984. Both
finished seventh.
Jackson: “Mission accomplished”
This is the second consecutive Olympic Games for Quiñónez, who previously represented his country
of birth Ecuador. He told reporters: “The objective has been fulfilled. I came here ranked
number 14 in the world and now I’m among the top 8.”
As for the final, Quiñónez hopes “to do a good time, perhaps go for the Spanish record,
but from there on it’s mainly to dream. In a final you get strength from wherever you can.
Some very important opponents are out and at the age of 28 it’ll be difficult to get another
chance like this”.