The resurrection of the young athlete from Nerja Ouassin Oumaiz has come, and in what way. The Cueva de Nerja long-distance runner crushed his record in 5,000 meters this Wednesday (at the time it was a minimum for the Tokyo Games, although he could not endorse it on the convenient dates), of 13:13.14, in Monaco on August 14, 2020. He lowered it by seven seconds to leave it in an impressive 13:06.74 in the sixteenth edition of the Ibero-American Meeting in Huelva.

To get an idea of ​​the importance of its record, we must consider that it is the fifth best Spanish brand of all time and the third European brand of the year, as well as the best Andalusian ever. Oumaiz was fourth in the test after an African trio formed by the Kenyan Levy Kibet (13:03.09), the Eritrean Merhawi Mebrahtu (13:04.49) and the Burundian Thierry Ndikumwenayo (13:06.46).

“He is very talented and could make that mark. I'm happy with the balance he showed. Ouassim had his problems last year and he could hardly compete, and now he is happier, "acknowledged his coach, Antonio Serrano, with whom he has returned this 2022. In fact, in 2021 he only completed three tests and retired in several and was left without going to the Olympic Games.

Now the man from Malaga has greatly lowered the demanding minimum for the World Cup in Eugene (United States), from July 15 to 24, by 5,000, which is 13:13.50, with a maximum of 42 participating athletes, and also that of the European from Munich (Germany), from August 15 to 21, which is from 13:24.00. Now, this does not mean that he has the guaranteed ticket.

Everything has to be settled in the Spanish Outdoor Athletics Championships, precisely in Oumaiz's homeland, in Nerja, from June 24 to 26. Each country has a maximum of three representatives who can go to the European and World Cups as long as they achieve the minimum, whose deadline to achieve it also expires on June 26.

At the moment Oumaiz (Cueva de Nerja) leads by far the national 'ranking' of 5,000 for this 2022, followed at a distance by Santiago Catrofe (13:28.41) and Aarón Las Heras (13:38.02), both from Playas de Castellón.

“The brand is the consequence of good work. We remain calm with the minimum, but now we have to continue working and improving, but both he and I are happy that the results are back, "acknowledged a Serrano who also directed the first part of his career, before Oumaiz for a few months , 24, put himself in the hands of Gabi Lorente, with a group of athletes in which Mohamed Katir was.

Precisely this or Antonio Mayo may be rivals in the coming weeks in the face of qualifying for the European and World Cup. For now, Oumaiz will be in Andújar on June 4 at the Jaén Paraíso Interior Meeting, but in 1,500 and, later, in the Spanish Club Championship, before the Nerja Nationals.

It must be remembered that Oumaiz was proclaimed absolute champion of Spain in cross country at a very young age. Since 1961, with the legendary Mariano Haro, a Spanish athlete has not revalidated the junior and senior title in the event, and he was also 20th in the World Championships in Aarhus (Denmark), with a brilliant start, the result of his inexperience, of an irrepressible impulse . Subsequently, he focused on the 5,000 (he also has the Spanish record of 5 kilometers on the road, with 13:19 (on July 19, 2020, in Nijmegen, the Netherlands), alternating with other long-distance or medium-distance tests.

The other four best marks in the history of Spanish athletes in 5,000 are those of Mohamed Katir (12:50.79), in Florence (Italy), on June 10, 2021; Aelemayehu Bezabeh (12.57.25), in Oslo (Norway), on June 4, 2020; Alberto García (13:02.54), in Rome (Italy), on June 29, 2001, and Jesús España (13:04.73), in Monaco, on July 22, 2011.