The cross country festival will meet this Sunday, December 11 in Amurrio, with a new edition, “humble but worked from the illusion”, confesses Pablo Mas, president of the Oinkariak club, organizer of the test that is part of the national calendar and that It will also be the Álava championship.
A total of 603 registered athletes will participate in all categories in both men and women, that is, federated sub 16, sub 18, sub 20, sub 23, senior, master, school sub 10, sub 12 and sub 14, in addition of a popular test for non-federated members and the great novelty, the adapted cross. “Through the club of the Paralympian Javi Conde, we have incorporated this category for people with disabilities, who will run, some with the popular 5 kilometers and others 1,000 or 2,000 meters,” Mas explains to EL CORREO, sponsor of the event.
Last year, the presence of the Burundi athletes Thierry Ndikumwenayo and Rodrigue Kwizera, in a casual way, was effective in relaunching the cross, but from their organization they are aware of the economic limitations that prevent them from hiring great African figures in the specialty. However, surely there will be a show with the bunch of favorites designated for victory such as Urko Herrán, Arrate Mintegui, Besaide Astobiza or Aimad Bouziane. It is hoped that the Moroccan athlete who has lived for years in Alegría-Dulantzi and with a license from Alava, Majida Maayouf, will join at the last minute. She has just competed in the Valencia marathon with an extraordinary time of 2:21:0, a new record for the distance from Morocco. On the verge of achieving Spanish nationality, her presence would give the event a plus. “We would love to have her and for her to participate. Due to proximity, she is encouraged at the last minute but I understand that she comes from a great effort in Valencia and perhaps she is not in the best condition, “the organization acknowledges.
A new circuit in El Refor
The permanent installation of El Refor in Amurrio makes it possible to design an attractive layout. For this edition and due to some works, two circuits have been created. A shorter one of 1,000 meters that is simpler, easier and more accessible where schoolchildren will run and another of 2,000 harder, on grass, with slopes, turns and narrower. “We try to return to the origins of cross with hard circuits, colorful for the public and complete,” says Mas. The distances will vary depending on the ages and categories, but in federated men will complete 9 kilometers and women 8. The Amurrio cross will start walking from 10:00 in the morning with hundreds of athletes closing the senior and sub 23, at 12:45 pm the female category and at 1:30 pm the male category. There will be cash prizes for the first five classified that will range between 75 and 500 euros with an extra 150 for the first man and woman with a Basque license.
