Valdepeñas has celebrated the sports festival this Sunday, setting a record of participation with more than 2,000 runners from different parts of Spain who have participated in the Very Heroic Half Marathon ‘City of Valdepeñas’ and the 10-kilometer race, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year.
The mayor of Valdepeñas, Jesús Martín, attended the awards ceremony at the ‘Virgen de la Cabeza’ Sports Complex, alongside the Sports Councillor, David Sevilla, and councilors from the municipal corporation, where he once again wanted to highlight the effort of the volunteers and runners in one of the urban athletic events with the highest participation in the region.
Martín emphasized to the media the «persistence» of the people of Valdepeñas, citing as an example the 85th International Exhibition of Plastic Arts and now the 30th anniversary of the Half Marathon, which was incident-free. «This half marathon has become established, there’s no turning back now. I don’t think we’ll die of success, given the success we’re having, but undoubtedly I think this competition brings a unique tertiary richness, a tourist knowledge, and even an international projection to Valdepeñas,» pointed out the municipal leader.
On the other hand, the Sports Councillor, David Sevilla, stated, «Valdepeñas should be proud that we have showcased an entire city. 2,000 runners, of which 25%, more than 500, were from our locality because Valdepeñas loves and lives for sports, and I believe today was a testament to that.» The municipal official responsible for sports added that this event was organized with «over 200 people, including police officers, Red Cross, Civil Protection, volunteers, and staff from the Sports Department, who made this event a great success, with a significant economic impact for our city.»
The runners of the XXX Very Heroic Half Marathon ‘City of Valdepeñas’, a cardio-protected race, received their sports bag with various gifts as usual, in addition to services such as childcare and physiotherapy, among many others.
Cronos
Regarding the results of the half marathon, the winners in the men’s general category were Mohamed Massat Bouzahar (1:07:14) in first place, Andy Morales Ramírez (1:07:30) in second place, and Imanol Cruz Mateos (1:10:21) in third place. In the women’s general category, Diana Martín Giménez (1:20:28) came first, followed by Rosario García Cervigón (1:20:56) in second place, and Irene Ruiz González (1:21:09) in third place.
As for local athletes, more than 500 participated in the XXX Very Heroic Half Marathon ‘City of Valdepeñas’ and the 10-kilometer race. In the Half Marathon, in the men’s general category of locals, Andy Morales Ramírez (1:07:30) secured first place, followed by José Gualo Salido (1:10:33) in second place, and Francisco Antonio Romero Romero (1:15:24) in third place.
In the women’s general category of locals, Eva María Ruiz Rodríguez (1:36:00) finished first, Maria Dolores Jiménez Ruiz (1:40:20) in second place, and Ana Belén Jiménez Ruiz (1:40:48) in third place.