Over 3,000 Runners Compete in Record-Breaking Santa Cruz Half Marathon
Over 3,000 runners from more than 50 countries participated in the XI Santa Cruz de Tenerife International Half Marathon, where Francisco Cabrera Galindo and Melina Alonso won the 21K race, and Raúl González del Toro and Maria Freij claimed victory in the 8K event, with Galindo and Freij setting new course records.
The XI Santa Cruz de Tenerife International Half Marathon was a huge success, with over 3,000 runners taking part. This historic event, approved by the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation, saw athletes compete in both a 21-kilometer and an 8-kilometer race.
In the main 21K race, Francisco Cabrera Galindo from Gran Canaria won for the men with a time of 1:08:26. Melina Alonso from Galicia took the women's title in 1:21:33. Both faced strong competition, with Peter Santagati and Marta Arnay pushing them close.
The 8K race was dominated by Raúl González del Toro, who finished in 25:26, and Maria Freij, who won the women's race in 29:06.
Thousands of runners from over 50 countries filled the streets of Santa Cruz. The event, which started at 9:00 AM, was a unique spectacle for the city.
The 21K route led runners along the coast towards San Andrés. In the men's race, Fran Galindo and Peter Santagati ran neck and neck, leaving Francisco José García behind. The women's race saw a similar battle between Marta Arnay and Melina Alonso, with British runner Tracy Biney following.
As the runners reached García Sanabria Park, Melina Alonso made a decisive move in the final stretch, overtaking Marta Arnay to win.
Fran Galindo not only won the men's 21K but also set a new course record with a time of 1:08:29, beating the previous record by three minutes. Peter Santagati came in second. Haotian Wu and Miguel Ángel Vaquero finished third and fourth respectively.
The 8K race kicked off after the leading 21K runners passed through the Plaza de España. Raúl González del Toro lived up to his favorite status, winning comfortably. César Hernández made a late surge, overtaking Cristian Pulido for second place.
Maria Freij set a new record for the 8K distance with a time of 29:07. Raquel García and Irene Lorenzo finished second and third.
The Santa Cruz de Tenerife International Half Marathon is known for being an inclusive event. This year, participants using handbikes and wheelchairs, among others, demonstrated that the race is accessible to everyone. The event was organized by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, with support from the Tenerife Island Council, the Government of the Canary Islands, and the Army.