Ivana Peralta Escandell: Spain’s Rising Sprint Star from the Balearic Islands

Early Life and Introduction to Athletics

Ivana Peralta Escandell was born on June 10, 2005, in Mallorca, Spain, one of the jewel islands of the Balearic archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. Growing up on an island with a rich sporting tradition, the young Mallorcan would discover her passion for sprinting at an early age, eventually becoming one of Spain’s most promising young sprint talents.

Peralta’s journey into competitive athletics began through the youth development system in the Balearic Islands, where she first displayed the raw speed and competitive fire that would come to define her career. She joined Club Atletisme Siurell-Sa Sini, a club based in Mallorca that has nurtured numerous talented athletes from the region, and it was there that she would develop the technical foundations and competitive mentality needed to succeed at the national and international levels.

Youth Career: Setting Records and Catching Attention (2021-2022)

Peralta’s talent became evident early in her youth career. In 2021, while still competing in the Sub-18 (U18) category, she earned her first international selection, representing Spain in an U18 international match in France. This early exposure to international competition proved invaluable in her development as a sprinter.

The 2022 indoor season marked a significant breakthrough for the young Mallorcan. In early 2022, Peralta set the Balearic Islands U18 record in the 60 meters with an impressive time of 7.69 seconds, announcing herself as a sprinter with serious potential. That same year, she contributed to the Balearic Islands’ mixed relay team in the Spanish U18 Championships, running alongside fellow talented youngsters including Daniel Castilla and Marc Escandell, athletes who would become her frequent teammates in national relay squads in the years to come.

Her performances during this period caught the attention of Spanish athletics officials, and she began receiving support through the Spanish Athletics Federation’s (RFEA) development programs. The investment in her future was beginning to pay dividends.

Junior Breakthrough: National Titles and International Debuts (2023)

The 2023 season represented Peralta’s coming-out party on the national stage. Competing in her first year of the U20 (Junior) category, she rapidly established herself among Spain’s elite young sprinters.

At the Spanish U20 Indoor Championships (Short Track) in early 2023, Peralta demonstrated her growing prowess over 200 meters, posting consistently strong times as she honed her technique and race execution. Her performances earned her selection to the Spanish national team for the 4×100 meter relay at the Spain-Portugal international match held in Huelva, marking another step forward in her international career.

The outdoor season brought her first major national medal. At the 70th Spanish U20 Championships held in Soria in July 2023, Peralta claimed the bronze medal in the 200 meters with a time of 24.24 seconds, finishing behind champion Yissis Cortijo and silver medalist Ana Irene Elewe in a highly competitive final. The performance confirmed her status as one of Spain’s top junior sprinters.

Her impressive form earned her a spot on Spain’s team for the European U20 Championships in Jerusalem, Israel, in August 2023, where she was named as a reserve for the 4×100 meter relay team. Although she did not ultimately compete in the championship, the experience of being part of the national team delegation at a continental championship provided valuable exposure to the highest levels of junior competition.

Championship Season: Double National Champion (2024)

The 2024 season saw Peralta take a decisive step forward, emerging as the dominant junior sprinter in Spain over the 200 meters. Her maturation as both a competitor and technician was evident throughout the year.

Indoor Dominance

At the 51st Spanish U20 Indoor Championships (Short Track) held in Salamanca in March 2024, Peralta captured her first national title in commanding fashion. She won the 200 meters with a time of 24.07 seconds, setting a new championship record in the process. The victory established her as the third-fastest Spanish U20 woman ever over the indoor 200 meters, a remarkable achievement for a 18-year-old still developing her craft.

Outdoor Glory

Three months later, Peralta reaffirmed her dominance at the 71st Spanish U20 Outdoor Championships held in Castellón in late July. In sweltering conditions that tested all competitors, she delivered a masterclass performance. After cruising through the first round (24.72) and semifinal (24.52) with authority, Peralta produced her best when it mattered most in the final.

Taking the race out hard through the curve, she entered the home straight with a clear lead and never looked back, crossing the line in first place with 24.22 seconds (wind-aided). The performance made her a double Spanish U20 champion—indoor and outdoor—in the 200 meters for 2024, a testament to her consistency and competitive excellence.

World U20 Championships, Lima

Her national titles earned Peralta selection to represent Spain at the World U20 Championships held in Lima, Peru, in late August 2024. While she did not compete in the individual 200 meters, she was a key member of Spain’s 4×100 meter relay team alongside Ericka Badeau Maseras, Carla Arwen Martínez, and Jazmín Romeu.

Competing in the qualification round, the Spanish quartet posted a time of 45.84 seconds, finishing fifth in their heat. Though they narrowly missed advancing to the final, the experience of competing at a global championship represented an important milestone in Peralta’s career—her first appearance at a World Athletics competition.

Transition to U23 and Continued Success (2025)

The 2025 season marked Peralta’s final year in the U20 category before transitioning to U23 (Promesa), and she made the most of the opportunity to compete at both levels while also establishing herself in senior club competition.

Spanish Indoor Championships

At the Spanish Absolute Indoor Championships held at Gallur in Madrid in February 2025, Peralta competed against the nation’s best senior sprinters. In a high-quality 200 meters final, she placed fourth with 24.03 seconds—a testament to her growing ability to compete with senior athletes while still a U20 competitor.

Club Competition: Division de Honor

A significant development in 2025 was Peralta’s move to Alcampo-Scorpio71, a prominent athletics club based in Zaragoza that competes in Spain’s top-tier División de Honor league. Representing her new club in the championship final in Soria in June 2025, she placed fourth in the 200 meters with 23.41 seconds and contributed to the women’s 4×100 meter relay team, helping Alcampo-Scorpio71 secure their twelfth consecutive season in the top division.

Her double gold performances in the second round of the league competition earlier in the season—winning both the 100 and 200 meters—underscored her value to the team and her versatility as a sprinter.

Spanish U23 Champion

The Spanish U23 Championships in Badajoz in early July 2025 saw Peralta capture her first title at this level. Competing under challenging conditions with excessive wind, she won the 200 meters with a wind-aided time of 23.35 seconds—a performance that would have broken the championship record under legal conditions. The victory qualified her for the European U23 Championships and continued her remarkable streak of national titles.

European U23 Championships, Bergen

At the European U23 Championships held in Bergen, Norway, from July 17-20, 2025, Peralta represented Spain in both the individual 200 meters and the 4×100 meter relay.

In the individual event, she competed in the first round, clocking 24.23 seconds. While she did not advance to the semifinals, finishing 21st overall, the experience of competing at a continental championship in her first U23 year provided valuable lessons for future campaigns.

However, it was in the relay where Peralta truly shone. As a member of Spain’s 4×100 meter team alongside Carla Cruz, Elena Guiu, and Ericka Badeau Maseras, she helped the quartet advance through the heats with a time of 44.02 seconds (the fifth-fastest in Spanish U23 history) and into the final, where they recorded 44.27 seconds. Initially finishing sixth, Spain was elevated to fifth place following the disqualification of Poland’s team—a notable achievement at a highly competitive continental championship.

Spanish Absolute Championships

Peralta’s impressive 2025 season culminated at the Spanish Absolute Championships in Tarragona in early August. In a 200 meters final that featured her fellow Mallorcan Esperança Cladera, Peralta finished seventh with a time of 23.91 seconds in her first absolute national championship final in her signature event—a creditable performance for a 20-year-old competing against Spain’s established senior sprinters.

Personal Bests and Career Statistics

As of her 2025 season, Peralta has established personal bests that rank her among Spain’s top sprinters:

Outdoor:

• 100 meters: 11.96 seconds (May 24, 2025)
• 200 meters: 23.50 seconds (June 7, 2025)
• 4×100 meter relay: 44.02 seconds (July 20, 2025, European U23 Championships)

Indoor:

• 60 meters: 7.69 seconds (2022, Balearic Islands U18 record)
• 200 meters short track: 24.03 seconds (February 23, 2025, Madrid)

Her wind-aided performances include a 23.35 in the 200 meters (Badajoz, July 2025), which demonstrates her potential to go even faster under favorable conditions.

Training and Support

Peralta’s development has been guided by coach José Luis Calvo Jaimez, who has worked with her during her time with C.A. Siurell-Sa Sini. She has been a recipient of RFEA scholarship support, training at one of Spain’s High Performance Centers (Centros de Alto Rendimiento) during the 2023-2024 academic year, reflecting the Spanish Athletics Federation’s investment in her future.

Her transition to Alcampo-Scorpio71 in 2025 opened new opportunities for high-level club competition and access to additional training resources and competition experience.

Records and Honors

National Titles:

• Spanish U20 Indoor Champion, 200m (2024) — Championship Record: 24.07
• Spanish U20 Outdoor Champion, 200m (2024)
• Spanish U23 Outdoor Champion, 200m (2025)

Regional Records:

• Balearic Islands U18 Record, 60m indoor: 7.69 (2022) — subsequently broken
• Multiple Balearic Islands U20 records in sprints

International Representation:

• World U20 Championships, Lima 2024 (4x100m relay)
• European U23 Championships, Bergen 2025 (200m, 4x100m relay — 5th place)
• Multiple Spain-Portugal international matches
• U18 International match, France (2021)

Social Media and Public Presence

Peralta maintains an active presence on social media, where she shares glimpses of her training, competitions, and life as a young athlete:

• Instagram: @ivanaperaalta

Looking Ahead

At just 20 years old, Ivana Peralta Escandell’s career trajectory suggests a bright future in Spanish sprinting. Her consistent progression from promising junior to national champion demonstrates not only natural talent but also the dedication, work ethic, and competitive mindset required to succeed at the highest levels.

With personal bests that continue to improve year over year and valuable international experience under her belt from the World U20 Championships and European U23 Championships, Peralta is well-positioned to become a mainstay of Spain’s sprint program for years to come. The Mallorcan speedster has already established herself as one of the leading lights of the Balearic Islands’ athletics community, following in the tradition of other notable athletes from the region.

As she continues to mature physically and technically, the coming seasons hold significant promise. With the potential to challenge the 23-second barrier in the 200 meters and develop her 100-meter abilities further, Peralta may well find herself representing Spain at senior continental and global championships in the not-too-distant future.

For now, the young woman from Mallorca continues to train, compete, and dream—adding her name to the proud legacy of Spanish sprinting while inspiring the next generation of young athletes in the Balearic Islands and beyond.

Current as of January 2026. Statistics and rankings sourced from World Athletics, the Real Federación Española de Atletismo (RFEA), and the Federació d’Atletisme de les Illes Balears (FAIB).