Despite the cold and wind, nearly a hundred athletes gathered in Castejón de Sos, most of them from the town itself and the Benasque Valley, although other runners from Ribagorza and neighboring regions also came to the "El Raso" airfield. This was the first athletic event of the season and the fourth held in this town in the Alta Ribagorza region, which boasts a spectacular course for cross-country running.
From 10:30 a.m., the different categories began their races, completing the various distances established for each category: a short course of 500 meters and a long course of 1000 meters. The low temperatures and cloudy skies gave way throughout the morning to sunshine that warmed the atmosphere, resulting in increasingly large crowds at the races.
In the cadet category, Celia Pardo and Álvaro Ocón, both from AD Llanos del Hospital, were the winners. In the children's category, the victory went to Rubén García (CA Barbastro). The highly competitive and exciting races for the youngest age group were won by Alberto Ocón (AD Llanos del Hospital) and Claudia Subra (Independent).
Vega Artero (CA Medio Maratón Valle de Benasque) and Mario Gracia (Mai Se Sabe) achieved victories in their respective children's categories.
The youngest children and the youngest ones added a splash of color, always accompanied by their families, who were also able to enjoy this sporting atmosphere, and a lunch, courtesy of the organization.
It is worth highlighting, in these school categories, the excellent participation and the promotion of the values that these types of events represent for the development of sport, not only from a competitive standpoint, but also in terms of incorporating these activities into the habits of our young people. These aspects have been addressed in Ribagorza through several Rural School Groups (CRA) in the region, with this race serving as the culmination of each of the teaching units developed by some physical education teachers. All participants received a medal for their participation, an essential aspect of these school races.
Finally, local athlete Chema Artero (CA Running Zaragoza) was the overall winner of this cross-country race, which was fiercely contested this year, with four athletes finishing in under 24 minutes, adding even more excitement to the race. Javier Ardanuy (Independent) and Martín Vigo (AD Llanos del Hospital) completed the podium in the overall standings. Amparo Abad (CA Running Zaragoza) took the women's victory. Present at the awards ceremony were Ana Uliaque (Sports Councilor in Castejón de Sos), Félix Jordán de Urríes Mur (Sports Councilor for the Ribagorza region), and Fernando Carrera (President of the Mai Se Sabe association).
The 4th Castejón de Sos Cross Country Race, organized by the Ribagorza Regional Council's sports service and the Castejón de Sos Town Council, was held in collaboration with the Mai Se Sabe Association, the Red Cross, Civil Protection, and the Avidores de Montaña de Aragón Aeroclub, who generously provided their facilities for the event. Future editions will feature a different location. The next athletic event in Ribagorza will take place in Capella on November 11th.
On the other hand, the Provincial Cross Country Championship has been confirmed for Benabarre on February 9, 2013, coinciding with its 25th anniversary. This event will conclude the cross country season in Ribagorza, a region that consistently supports this discipline, hosting several events on the calendar of the 30th Aragon School Sports Games, promoted by the Directorate General of Sports of the Government of Aragon.
Below you will find the complete results and the overall standings.
