El Hierro Meridian Marathon Crowns Champions, Breaks Records

The 18th Meridian Marathon took place last weekend on El Hierro, proving once again its status as one of the toughest and most famous endurance races in the Canary Islands. Over a thousand runners participated in the event, which saw some incredible athletic performances and new records set in several categories. It's a race that truly combines a physical challenge with the stunning scenery of El Hierro.

El Hierro, the westernmost island of the Canaries, is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Its incredibly beautiful and challenging natural terrain makes the race even harder for mountain runners. With its volcanic landscapes and steep hills, El Hierro is known for testing both the body and mind. This tough environment helps the Meridian Marathon attract more and more athletes, especially as trail running becomes increasingly popular in Spain.

In the main 42-kilometer race, Mario Olmedo won the men's category, finishing in 3 hours, 52 minutes, and 24 seconds. Aida Campos took the women's title with a time of 5 hours, 3 minutes, and 20 seconds. Completing the men's podium were Alberto García in second (4:01’58’’) and Raúl Butaci in third (4:03’17’’). For the women, Irene Picón came second (5:43’23’’), and Cristina San Hemeterio was third (5:53’48’’).

The 28-kilometer race was particularly exciting, with two new course records broken. Aythami López won the men's race, setting a new all-time best for this distance. Josep Miret finished second (2:19’51’’), and Daniel Castillo was third (2:39’38’’). In the women's race, Swiss runner Judith Wyder set a new record with a time of 2:41:15. Marta Pueyo came in second (3:21’27’’), and Verónica Suárez was third (3:28’53’’).

For the shorter races, Aythami Brito won the men's 19-kilometer race (1:29’35’’), and Isabel Salazar won the women's (1:59:46). The men's podium was completed by Arezki Habibi (1:35’11’’) in second and Francisco Castillo (1:36’41’’) in third. For the women, Valeria Hernández took second (2:01’18’’) and Olga Martynenkova third (2:04’41’’). In the 9-kilometer race, Matías Huertas (38’24’’) was the fastest man, and Ángela Morales (49’55’’) was the fastest woman. Modibo Diakite (39’09’’) and Sidi Bacari (41’21’’) finished second and third for the men, while Candy Barrios (55’33’’) and María José García (56’56’’) secured second and third for the women.

Beyond the race results, runners, including winners Mario Olmedo and Aida Campos, highlighted how special the course was and how much support they received from the local community. Olmedo also dedicated his win to Andalusia, showing support after recent bad weather there. The help from El Hierro's residents, who cheer on runners along the route, is a unique part of the race, adding to the great weather conditions this year.