Portugal Returns Strong to European Cup with Renewed Ambitions

More than a decade later, Portugal is set to field full men's and women's teams at the European 10,000m Cup, taking place this Saturday, May 23rd, in La Spezia. The Portuguese delegation, comprising seven athletes, aims to reclaim a prominent position in the historic long-distance competition.

The national squad's leading figures are Mariana Machado and Samuel Barata. Spearheading the delegation will be Sara Moreira, the last Portuguese athlete to win the individual event in 2017. The former champion expressed confidence in the group's potential.

"I have positive expectations and great confidence in the group we have. We know it will be a demanding competition, but I believe our athletes are prepared to represent Portugal with ambition, responsibility, and team spirit," stated the team leader.

For Portugal to score collectively, a minimum of three athletes from each gender must complete the race. This full return is seen as a significant milestone. "It signifies an important comeback for Portugal to a historic European athletics competition. It's a sign of investment and confidence in this discipline, which has a rich history in the country," emphasized Sara Moreira, adding that participation "can be very important for the growth of our athletes and for the future of Portuguese long-distance running."

In the women's sector, Mariana Machado from Braga is the standout, being the only one called up who has already secured qualifying standards for the European Championships in Birmingham, from August 10th to 16th. The athlete boasts a personal best of 32:27.06 on the track and has already run the distance in 30:58 on the road. The women's team also includes Susana Godinho Santos (personal best of 32:57 on the road) and Mónica Silva (33:07 on the road), both primarily focused on the marathon.

In the men's competition, Samuel Barata leads the Portuguese quartet. His personal best is 27:48.62, and this season, he ran the distance in 27:54 on the road, just four seconds shy of the European Championship qualifying standard. The team is completed by Duarte Gomes (28:08), Rui Pinto (28:21), and Miguel Borges (28:46), all with times achieved in road races.

With her vast experience, Sara Moreira, a three-time champion of the event, shared the message she will convey to the athletes: "I will tell our athletes to seize this opportunity, to compete without fear and with pride in representing Portugal. These competitions can define a career and are moments that last forever."