# Spanish Athletics Championships

The Spanish Athletics Championships (Spanish: Campeonato de España de atletismo) is an annual outdoor track and field competition organised by the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA), which serves as the Spanish national championship for the sport. It is typically held as a two-day event in the Spanish summer around late June to early August. The venue of the championships is decided on an annual basis.
The competition was first held in 1917 as a men's only competition. A separate women's began in 1931 but, following the onset of the Spanish Civil War, this was cancelled after 1935 and it was not until 1963 that women events were added alongside the men's programme. This made Spain the last large European country to provide a national championship for women in the sport and female participation in sport in general in Spain was low due to a lack of physical education, facilities and funding for women's sport. This stemmed from the policy of National Catholicism, which saw women's place as caregivers and physical feats by them as a challenge to morality.
The championships has been held every years since its inauguration with the exception of 1922 and three years during the civil war (1937, 1938, and 1939). The modern event is used for the Spanish international selection for major athletics events, including the Olympic Games, World Championships in Athletics and European Athletics Championships.

## Events

On the current programme a total of 38 individual Spanish Championship athletics events are contested, divided evenly between men and women. For each of the sexes, there are six track running events, three obstacle events, four jumps, four throws, and two relays.

### Track running

* 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres, 800 metres, 1500 metres, 5000 metres

### Obstacle events

* 100 metres hurdles (women only), 110 metres hurdles (men only), 400 metres hurdles, 3000 metres steeplechase

### Jumping events

* Pole vault, high jump, long jump, triple jump

### Throwing events

* Shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, hammer throw

### Relays

* 4 × 100 metres relay, 4 × 400 metres relay
A men's barra vasca competition was held up to 1963 – the event being a variation of the javelin throw, but the spear was thrown by a technique of spinning while holding it at the hip. This was banned to preserve public safety, as a result of errant throws.
In spite of the prevention of women for competing at the national championships for such a long period, the women's programme subsequently expanded in line with international developments. The first addition was a women's pentathlon in 1965 (later being replaced by the heptathlon in 1981). A women's 1500 m was added in 1969, a 3000 metres in 1974 (held until 1994), a 5000 m in 1982, then a 10,000 m in 1984. The women's 80 metres hurdles was extended to the 100 m distance in 1969 and the 400 m hurdles emerged in 1977. A women's 5000 m track walk was first featured in 1982 and extended to the full 10,000 m distance in 1990. The field events programme expanded in the 1990s, with the addition of the triple jump in 1990, pole vault in 1994, and hammer throw in 1995. Women finally achieved parity with men in the track and field programme with the addition of the steeplechase in 2001.
Spanish championships in 10K run, half marathon, marathon, 100 kilometres run, cross country running, mountain running and road walking are held separately from the main track and field championships. There is also a Spanish Athletics Club Championships for athletics clubs, which was first held in 1958 for men and 1966 for women.

## Editions
### Women-only

| Edition | Year | Location | Dates | Venue |
| 1 | 1931 | Madrid | 24–25 October | Campo de la Sociedad Atlética de Madrid |
| 2 | 1932 | Barcelona | 8–9 October | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 3 | 1933 | Barcelona | 8 October | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 4 | 1935 | Barcelona | 7 July | Estadio de Montjuïc |

### Men/unified championships

| Edition | Year | Location | Dates | Venue |
| 1 | 1917 | San Sebastián | 8–10 September | Estadio de Atocha |
| 2 | 1918 | Madrid | 12–13 October | Campo del Athletic Club de Madrid |
| 3 | 1919 | Barcelona | 18–19 October | Velódromo Campo de Deportes |
| 4 | 1920 | San Sebastián | 24–25 July | Estadio de Atocha |
| 5 | 1921 | Vigo | 16 October | Estadio de Coya |
| 6 | 1923 | Las Arenas-Gecho | 12–15 August | Estadio de Romo |
| 7 | 1924 | Tolosa | 24–25 May | Estadio de Berazubi |
| 8 | 1925 | Tolosa | 25–26 July | Estadio de Berazubi |
| 9 | 1926 | Tolosa | 31 July–1 August | Estadio de Berazubi |
| 10 | 1927 | Madrid | 25–26 June | Estadio Metropolitano de Madrid |
| 11 | 1928 | Reus | 30 June–1 July | Estadio del Reus Deportiu |
| 12 | 1929 | Barcelona | 29–30 June | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 13 | 1930 | Barcelona | 5–6 June | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 14 | 1931 | Barcelona | 25–26 July | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 15 | 1932 | Tolosa | 30–31 July | Estadio de Berazubi |
| 16 | 1933 | Barcelona | 12–13 August | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 17 | 1934 | Tolosa | 4–5 August | Estadio de Berazubi |
| 18 | 1935 | Tolosa | 24–25 August | Estadio de Berazubi |
| 19 | 1936 | Barcelona | 11–12 July | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 20 | 1940 | Barcelona | 27–28 July | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 21 | 1941 | Valencia | 26–27 July | Campo de Vallejo |
| 22 | 1942 | Madrid | 28–29 June | Pistas de la Ciudad Universitaria |
| 23 | 1943 | Barcelona | 24–25 July | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 24 | 1944 | Tolosa | 30–31 July | Estadio de Berazubi |
| 25 | 1945 | Girona | 28–29 July | Pista de la Dehesa |
| 26 | 1946 | Barcelona | 20–21 July | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 27 | 1947 | Barcelona | 26–27 July | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 28 | 1948 | Avilés | 10–11 July | Pista de la Exposición |
| 29 | 1949 | Barcelona | 9–10 July | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 30 | 1950 | Burgos | 10–11 July | Pista de la Ciudad Deportiva General Yagüe |
| 31 | 1951 | Barcelona | 28–29 July | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 32 | 1952 | Avilés | 12–13 July | Pista de la Exposición |
| 33 | 1953 | San Sebastián | 25–26 July | Pista de Anoeta |
| 34 | 1954 | Tetuán | 10–11 July | Stade Saniat Rmel |
| 35 | 1955 | Barcelona | 9–10 July | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 36 | 1956 | Oviedo | 21–22 July | Estadio Cristo de las Cadenas |
| 37 | 1957 | A Coruña | 20–21 July | Estadio Riazor |
| 38 | 1958 | San Sebastián | 12–13 July | Pista de Anoeta |
| 39 | 1959 | Tolosa | 18–19 July | Estadio de Berazubi |
| 40 | 1960 | Barcelona | 30–31 July | Estadio de Montjuïc & Estadio de la Ciudad Universitaria |
| 41 | 1961 | Barcelona | 14–15 August | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 42 | 1962 | A Coruña | 18–19 August | Estadio Riazor |
| 43 | 1963 | Barcelona | 17–18 August | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 44 | 1964 | Madrid | 19–20 September | Estadio de Vallehermoso |
| 45 | 1965 | Madrid | 17–18 July | Estadio de Vallehermoso |
| 46 | 1966 | Madrid | 17–18 September | Estadio de Vallehermoso |
| 47 | 1967 | Madrid | 23–24 September | Estadio de Vallehermoso |
| 48 | 1968 | Madrid | 13–14 July | Estadio de Vallehermoso |
| 49 | 1969 | Madrid | 5–6 July | Estadio de Vallehermoso |
| 50 | 1970 | Madrid | 10–12 July | Estadio de Vallehermoso |
| 51 | 1971 | Madrid | 9–11 July | Estadio de Vallehermoso |
| 52 | 1972 | Madrid | 7–9 July | Estadio de Vallehermoso |
| 53 | 1973 | Barcelona | 13–15 July | Estadio de la Ciudad Universitaria |
| 54 | 1974 | Madrid | 19–21 July | Estadio de Vallehermoso |
| 55 | 1975 | San Sebastián | 1–3 August | Pista de Anoeta |
| 56 | 1976 | Madrid | 27–29 June | Estadio de Vallehermoso |
| 57 | 1977 | Granollers | 23–25 July | Estadio Municipal de Granollers |
| 58 | 1978 | Madrid | 28–30 July | Estadio de Vallehermoso |
| 59 | 1979 | Barcelona | 10–12 August | Estadi Municipal Joan Serrahima |
| 60 | 1980 | Madrid | 22–24 August | Pista del I.N.E.F. |
| 61 | 1981 | Barcelona | 7–9 August | Estadi Municipal Joan Serrahima |
| 62 | 1982 | Santiago de Compostela | 6–8 August | Ciudad Universitaria |
| 63 | 1983 | San Sebastián | 22–24 July | Pista de Anoeta |
| 64 | 1984 | Barcelona | 29 June–1 July | Estadi Municipal Joan Serrahima |
| 65 | 1985 | Gijón | 2–4 August | Las Mestas |
| 66 | 1986 | Madrid | 1–3 August | Estadio de Vallehermoso |
| 67 | 1987 | Barcelona | 14–16 August | Estadi Municipal Joan Serrahima |
| 68 | 1988 | Vigo | 11–14 August | Estadio de Balaídos |
| 69 | 1989 | Barcelona | 11–13 August | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 70 | 1990 | Jerez de la Frontera | 10–12 August | Estadio Municipal de Chapín |
| 71 | 1991 | Barcelona | 2–4 August | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 72 | 1992 | Valencia | 26–28 June | Cauce del Río Turia |
| 73 | 1993 | Gandía | 2–4 July | Polideportivo Municipal |
| 74 | 1994 | San Sebastián | 15–17 July | Estadio de Anoeta |
| 75 | 1995 | Madrid | 21–23 July | Estadio Olímpico de Madrid |
| 76 | 1996 | Málaga | 28–29 June | Ciudad Deportiva de Carranque |
| 77 | 1997 | Salamanca | 19–20 July | Estadio Javier Sotomayor |
| 78 | 1998 | San Sebastián | 1–2 August | Estadio de Anoeta |
| 79 | 1999 | Sevilla | 24–25 July | Estadio de la Cartuja |
| 80 | 2000 | Barcelona | 2–3 September | Estadio de Montjuïc |
| 81 | 2001 | Valencia | 21–22 July | Pista Jardín del Turia |
| 82 | 2002 | Salamanca | 20–21 July | Estadio Javier Sotomayor |
| 83 | 2003 | Jerez de la Frontera | 2–3 August | Estadio Municipal de Chapín |
| 84 | 2004 | Almería | 31 July–1 August | Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos |
| 85 | 2005 | Málaga | 23–24 July | Estadio Ciudad de Málaga |
| 86 | 2006 | Zaragoza | 22–23 July | Centro Aragonés del Deporte |
| 87 | 2007 | San Sebastián | 4–5 July | Estadio de Anoeta |
| 88 | 2008 | Santa Cruz de Tenerife | 26–27 July | Centro Insular de Atletismo de Tenerife |
| 89 | 2009 | Barcelona | 1–2 August | Estadio de Montjuic |
| 90 | 2010 | Avilés | 17–18 July | Complejo Deportivo Avilés |
| 91 | 2011 | Málaga | 6–7 August | Estadio Ciudad de Málaga |
| 92 | 2012 | Pamplona | 25–26 August | Estadio Larrabide |
| 93 | 2013 | Alcobendas | 27–28 July | Polideportivo José Caballero |
| 94 | 2014 | Alcobendas | 26–27 July | Polideportivo José Caballero |
| 95 | 2015 | Castellón de la Plana | 1–2 August | Pista Municipal Gaetá Huguet |
| 96 | 2016 | Gijón | 23–24 July | Complejo Deportivo Las Mestas |
| 97 | 2017 | Barcelona | 22–23 July | Estadi Municipal Joan Serrahima |
| 98 | 2018 | Getafe | 21–22 July | Polideportivo Juan de la Cierva |
| 99 | 2019 | La Nucia | 31 August and 1 September | Ciudad Deportiva Camilo Cano |
| 100 | 2020 | various | 12-13 September | various |
| 101 | 2021 | Getafe | 26–27 June | Polideportivo Juan de la Cierva |
| 102 | 2022 | Nerja | 25–26 June | Estadio Enrique Lopez Cuenca |
| 103 | 2023 | Torrent | 29–30 July | Pista Parc Central |

## Championships records
### Men

| Event | Record | Athlete/Team | Date | Meet | Place | Ref |
| 800 m | 1:45.82 | Alvaro de Arriba | 26 June 2022 | 2022 Championships | Nerja | |
| Triple jump | 17.87 m (+1.2 m/s) NR | Jordan Díaz | 26 June 2022 | 2022 Championships | Nerja | |

### Women

| Event | Record | Athlete/Team | Date | Meet | Place |
| 100 m hurdles | 11.07 (+1.6 m/s) | María Isabel Pérez | 26 June 2022 | 2022 Championships | Nerja |
| 400 m hurdles | 54.34 NR | Sara Gallego | 26 June 2022 | 2022 Championships | Nerja |
| Triple jump | 14.61 m (-0.8 m/s) | Ana Peleteiro | 27 June 2021 | 2021 Championships | Getafe |
| Shot put | 18.28 m NR | Úrsula Ruiz | 22 July 2017 | 2017 Championships | Barcelona |