Andorra's Five Athletes Compete in Taranto Mediterranean Games Athletics

Pol Moya led much of the men's 1,500m final at the Mediterranean Games athletics competition in Taranto, Italy, but faded in the closing stages to finish seventh.

The Andorran Athletics Federation (FAA) competitor, who placed fifth in the event at the 2022 Games, clocked 3:43.96 in a field of 15. Moya set a strong pace from the start despite minor health issues the previous week, holding the lead until the final straight. He then lost momentum as rivals overtook him, tying with Italy's Jo Bussotti for seventh—nine hundredths behind gold medallist Flavien Szot of France (3:43.03), ahead of Algeria's Anis Chott (3:43.19) and Morocco's Anass Essayi (3:43.20).

Duna Viñals finished last in her women's 400m hurdles heat with 1:01.76, three seconds off her personal best of 58.37 and outside the qualification spots for the top three plus two fastest losers. Eloi Vilella placed fourth in his men's 400m hurdles heat in 52.64, four seconds behind his season's best and roughly two seconds off the advancing third-place mark set by France's Simon Deschamps.

Nahuel Carabaña is next for Andorra in the 3,000m steeplechase final at 18:40 today. Ariadna Fanés will close the nation's athletics campaign on Thursday, September 3, in the women's half-marathon from 08:30—her debut on the international track after focusing on mountain events.

The five FAA athletes build on Andorra's recent medals in petanque, gymnastics and taekwondo, including Naiara Liñán's bronze in the 49kg category. FAA president Josep Maria Missé highlighted the benefits for a small nation of facing elite competition. Moya had returned from altitude training, while Viñals and Vilella earned valuable senior international exposure, with Vilella expressing enthusiasm for testing his form against top fields.