The 42nd diputación de cáceres cross country trophy brought together nearly a thousand athletes and successfully introduced new circuits at El Cuartillo. In the men's senior category, the spotlight was on the At. Valencia de Alcántara club, which achieved an impressive individual double; Alexandre Miguel Garrilho completed the course in 21:13, leading his team to victory.
In the women's category, María del Carmen Chaves from the At La Serena club secured first place with a time of 25:50. The event, which also served as the Extremadura Championship for Clubs, was attended by Miguel Ángel Morales, president of the diputación de cáceres, Pablo López, the sports deputy, and the president of the Extremadura Athletics Federation.
The provincial sports complex, El Cuartillo, hosted the event on Sunday, marking it as one of the most traditional and prestigious competitions in the Extremadura athletics calendar. This year, the trophy attracted 976 athletes from 25 clubs across more than fifty localities in the region, making it the most participated cross country event in Extremadura.
The competition was marked by a vibrant sporting atmosphere, with athletes, coaches, families, and fans present. One of the highlights of this edition was the debut of the newly designed circuits at El Cuartillo, which received positive feedback from participants and coaches alike. Despite strong winds throughout the morning, athletes expressed satisfaction with the course, noting its technical variety, greater visibility for spectators, and excellent conditions for cross country running.
Valencia de Alcántara dominates men's senior race
In the men's senior race, the At. Valencia de Alcántara club showcased their dominance, achieving both individual and team victory. Alexandre Miguel Carrilho Barroqueiro took first place, followed by his teammate Aitor Sánchez Garlito with a time of 21:26. Roberto Ambrosio Guillén from Arte Físico-Cáceres secured third place with a time of 21:37. The Valencia team was also crowned overall champions.
María del Carmen Chaves wins women's category
María del Carmen Chaves Llamazares claimed victory in the women's category, finishing strongly with a time of 25:50. She was followed by Paula García Pérez and Anaís Doñoro Gallardo, both from CAPEX, who finished with times of 26:18 and 27:14 respectively. In the women's team classification, CAPEX also took the title.
Extremadura Championship showcases top clubs
In addition to the senior categories, the competition featured a comprehensive sports programme from the Sub-8 category to Masters. Team champions included Triatlón Don Benito (Sub-12 men's), C. At. Alburquerque (Sub-12 and Sub-14 women's), Atletismo Zafra (Sub-14 men's), Atletismo Mitreo (Sub-16 men's), CAPEX (Sub-16 women's, Sub-18 men's, and Sub-20 men's), and At Don Benito (Sub-18 women's).
Tribute to María de los Remedios Márquez Gregorio
The day also had an emotional aspect, with a tribute to María de los Remedios Márquez Gregorio, known as 'Reme', a prominent figure in Extremadura athletics. An international athlete and regional pioneer in various disciplines, she currently serves as the first vice president of the Extremadura Athletics Federation. She received recognition for her lifelong commitment to the sport and its development in the region.
The diputación de cáceres and the Extremadura Athletics Federation concluded a particularly significant edition of the trophy, characterised by high participation, excellent organisation, the introduction of new competition circuits, and strong support from athletes and clubs, who have positively assessed the evolution of this event, which continues to be a benchmark in Extremadura athletics.
