El Poble Nou de Benitatxell has once again dressed up this Sunday to celebrate the IX Volta a Peu, a day of the Circuit a Peu Marina Alta that is already the great festival of local sport. Around a thousand athletes, from children’s categories to veterans, gathered to face the demands of a route that leaves no one indifferent.
In the men’s category, the athlete Robert Harrison, from C.E. Llebeig Xàbia, was proclaimed the absolute winner with a magnificent record of 30 minutes and 54 seconds. The hegemony of the Xabiero club was remarkable, as his teammate José Manuel García Barragán crossed the finish line in second position (31’23»). The overall podium was closed by the great revelation of the Circuit a Peu 2026, the CA Ondara athlete Hicham Anfalous, with a time of 31’31».
In the women’s category, the show was served by three exceptional runners who demonstrated the great form of regional athletics. María Isabel Ferrer (C.E. Llebeig Xàbia) shone again with her own light, crossing the finish line in 34 minutes and 24 seconds and thus consolidating an impeccable streak at the Circuit a Peu. Next to her, the podium was completed with the presence of Eri Yonamine (Kamikazes Gang), who achieved second position with a time of 36’15», and Cristina Roselló (CA Publidom), who closed the places of honor with a time of 38’17».
The organisation once again opted for a 9.1-kilometer route that avoided the extreme hardness of Camí Abiar to run along Teulada’s road. The layout combined the beauty of the historic centre with the charm of the terraced landscapes and vineyards, maintaining that demanding character that has earned it the nickname of «Tourmalet» of La Marina.
The start was once again one of the most emotional moments. To the rhythm of the local anthem ‘Jo soc mitjafava’, by Toni Català, blue and yellow confetti dyed the sky, while the music of the colla La Llebetjà, the Batucada Dacatuba of the Music School and the batucada Ondarattack enlivened each step of the runners.
The yongest ones also had their share of prominence, dragging hundreds of family members. In the children’s categories, the podiums of the young local athletes stood out: Adrián Martínez Ferrer, with the gold in the men’s Pre-Benjamin and Marc Buigues Balaguer, 3rd in the men’s Barrufets category.
The organisation of the Club Multiesport Benitatxell was, once again, a ten, with the fundamental collaboration of more than 30 of its members in the logistical tasks so that everything went smoothly. Security and order were also exemplary thanks to the work of the Local Police and Civil Protection, allowing the day to pass without any incident. To end the morning, the bar of Peña Taurina El Portalet put the icing on the cake with its delicious sandwiches and an unbeatable atmosphere.
