Sunday, October 13, 2024, 2:17 p.m.
They had no rivals. Sentimental companions and tyrants on the asphalt, the Soria-based Portuguese Isaac Nader and Salomé Afonso won the Bilbao Mile. As in the three previous editions, Nader swept the Gran Vía, also establishing the test record with 4 minutes and 10 seconds. It was a very tactical race that he had under control at all times. Winner on Saturday in the Berango Mile, the Portuguese completed a spectacular weekend in the Biscayan territory.
The one from Faro gave the spotlight to the nationals Daniel Arce and Mariano García, in the lead during the first half of the route. He also resisted Adel Mechaal’s attack after less than two minutes and also kept the Spanish 800 record holder Mohammed Attaoui at bay. Thus, in the last lap he took the lead and swept the last sprint to clearly surpass Attaoui and Ignacio Fontes in front of the Palacio Diputación in front of a dedicated audience.
The 18th edition of the Bilbao Mile, the best event on the national calendar and which is sponsored by EL CORREO, once again brought together an excellent level of Spanish and international athletes. Unlike last year, when on these same dates the town offered a gray day with intermittent rain, this Sunday morning there were conditions that improved, by far, to many summer days in the territory. Temperatures were around 25 degrees, perfect conditions for running.
Time changed with respect to 2023, but what remained unchanged was the unconditional support of the public. Bilbao, which has one of the biggest rallies of the year in Zorroza, loves both popular and professional athletics. From 10:30 a.m. runners of all ages and levels paraded until at 1:15 p.m. it was time for the elite. In total, more than a thousand participants took to a crowded Gran Vía.
