More than 3,600 participants from 16 countries in 21K and 10K races yesterday
David Magán and Mª Ángeles Magán, winners of Benidorm Half Marathon
After the forced stop of 2020, Benidorm Half returned last night to fill the streets of the city with runners in its 37th edition, which brought together more than 3,600 participants, 33% women, from 16 countries. At 6.30 pm, the mayor, Toni Pérez, gave the start of the race. Ahead, 21K and 10K, respectively, for a route approved by the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation with start and finish at Plaza de SSMM Reyes de España, and which took the runners along the renewed Avenida del Mediterráneo and the beaches of the city.
David Magán and Mª Ángeles Magán were the first to complete the 21K in the male and female category. In a tight finish, the 26-mile club runner crossed the finish line with a time of 01:06:24, closely followed by Hassane Ahouchar, from Albacete Provincial Council, with a time of 01:06:31. Eight seconds later, Kaddour Said closed the podium of the absolute classification.
Local Rubén Caballero, from CA Benidorm, was the sixth runner to cover the 21K distance, with a mark of 1:12:49. After Caballero, the best local athletes were Vicente Solbes, from Gladiators, with 1:19:09; and Jordan Robson of Washington Running with 01:24:04.
In women, Mª Ángeles Magán, from CA Pinar-Ekuon-Conchel-Dipua, was the first to cross the finish line, covering the 21K in 01:22:18. The British Shopie Booth had the second fastest time with 01:24:49; while Mª Jesús Vázquez, from UM Trainer, climbed to the third box of the podium with a time of 01:28:07.
Gemma Ann Selby, from CA Faro, had the best record among the locals with a time of 1:23:33. Martixu Norazoaz with 1:44:22 and Mª Ángeles Ortiz, from AC Manchathon, with 1:49:50, were second and third respectively.
The Sports Councilor, Mariló Cebreros, accompanied by members of the Corporation, was in charge of delivering the prizes in the different categories of the 21K race. Previously, together with the mayor, the same was done with the winners of the 10K race, which was conquered by Iván Andreas López from Atletisme Crevillent and the Italian Giulia Vettor, from CUS Parma, with times of 0:30:58 and 0:36 : 05.
The men's 10K podium was completed by Juan García, from CA Murcia, and Rubén Requena, from CA Albacete, who posted times of 0:31:27 and 0:31:37; While among the women, María Fuestes from CD Lurbel Like Sport also rose to the drawer with 0:36:58 and Mariia Golota from Run 31 with 0:38:15.
Among the local runners, a triplet for CA Benidorm, with Manolo Tirado, Juan Gilabert and José Vicente Prieto as the best times (0:35:32, 0:36:12 and 0:36:51). In women, Cecilia Laconi, Ester Madruga and Lucía del Mar Pérez –also from CA Benidorm- were the first three to complete the 10K -
Benidorm Half will return with its 38th edition next March.
