Henríquez and De Marco Triumph at The Blue Challenge Open Water Swim

Rafa Henríquez and Natalia de Marco won the main race at The Blue Challenge this weekend. This open water swimming event linked Los Cristianos and El Palm-Mar in Arona.

The Canaryrun club organised the race, with support from Spring in Motion, the Arona City Council's Tourism Department, and DxT Cabildo de Tenerife. The Arona City Council's Sports Department also backed the event. Famous swimmers David Meca, Erika Villaécija, and Laura Roca were the godparents.

The race started in the bay of Los Cristianos, with perfect conditions for open water swimming. Competitors set off just after 10:30 AM, heading to El Palm-Mar and then back to Los Cristianos.

In the men's race, Rafa Henríquez, Abián Reino, and Carlos Alberto Pérez were leading. Henríquez pulled ahead after the halfway point and finished first in 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 25 seconds. Abián Reino came second (1:09:12), and Carlos Alberto Pérez was third (1:09:31).

Natalia de Marco and Elena de Sarmiento had a close competition. De Marco took the lead after El Palm-Mar and won in 1 hour, 14 minutes, and 32 seconds. Elena de Sarmiento finished second (1:15:06), and Subirle Bouchet was third (1:17:32).

A new 2.5 km race was also held. Swimmers were taken by boat to El Palm-Mar and then swam back to Los Cristianos beach. Jeremy Peña and Gala Pete quickly took the lead and won their respective races.

Jeremy Peña finished the 2.5 km race in 33:02, ahead of Antonio Izaguirre (second) and Iván González (third). Gala Pete won the women's race in 37:38, with Kassandra Izaguirre second and Rebeca Calzadilla third.

Daniel Plasencia won the short distance event, completing the course in Los Cristianos bay in just 13:05. Mortz Berg was second, and Lola Fernández was third overall and first female finisher (13:34). Hugo Lecuona was the third male finisher, and María Matos and Jana Vastova completed the women's podium.