The provincial deputy for Culture and Citizenship of the Provincial Council of Seville, Casimiro Fernandezhas been responsible for welcoming athletes, sports authorities and other personalities, among whom were the mayor of the Sevillian town of Santiponce, Juan Jose Ortega; the director of Competitions and Events of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation, Luis Saladieand the president of ADOC, Manuel Blanco; to the presentation ceremony of the XLII International Cross of Itálica.
An event to learn more about what is one of the most emblematic cross-country events in the world, which brings together in the Itálica Archaeological Complex to elite athletes and the province’s grassroots runners. On this occasion, it has also been open to amateurs and those who have registered to run different events this Sunday, November 17, who today enjoyed collecting their numbers and the activities that make up the Race Festival.
The presentation included very important protagonists, such as several of the athletes who will compete in the absolute events of the Poncina race: Beatrice Chebet, Berihu Aregawi, Alice Finot and Yemaneberhan Crippa. And, of course, there has also been representation of Spanish athletes in the figures of Fernando Carro, Marta García, Carolina Robles and Adel Mechaal.
«We are facing one of the most exciting editions of this cross country that is a luxury for the province, because it is much more than sport. I want to encourage all the fans to join us tomorrow and next Sunday, because we are going to experience a very special Cross,” explained Casimiro Fernández.
«First of all, we celebrate our forty-second edition coinciding with the celebration in our province of the XLIX Spanish Cross Country Club Championship, which we organize with the help of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation. Itálica is a pioneer in being the first national cross country that has hosted two editions of this competition, which had already done a double with our cross country in 2021. In addition, we have a very high level of competition, with the most interesting athletes in the specialty, and We have registered a true record of participation, with almost 7,000 people registered».
During this event to present the Cross, we wanted to pay a heartfelt tribute to José Manuel Díaz Chaves, technical director of the event for many years, now retired, as well as his technical team. In addition, the authorities and people in attendance have been able to view the official spot of the XLII Cross Internacional de Itálica, in which the protagonist is the only Spanish athlete who has been on the podium: the Cantabrian Jose Manuel Abascalbronze medalist at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, who has not been able to be in Seville these days but has dedicated a few words to the organization of the Cross Country through a video.
#ready #XLII #International #Cross #Itálica #home #Spanish #Club #Championship
