The man from Monzón achieved his third victory in the San Juan festival race, while the woman from Zaragoza won the sprint against Greta Guerrero.
Javier Castells from Monzón and Alodia Martínez from Zaragoza were the overall winners of the 35th annual San Juan de Ballobar Road Race , held last Friday on the central Caídos Street. The race brought together around twenty athletes from Monzón, Zuera, Zaragoza, Lleida, Alcañiz, Fraga, and Ballobar, in this traditional event that once again covered a course of 30 laps and approximately eight kilometers.
Castells added his name to the race's list of winners for the third time after a commanding victory in the men's category. In the women's race, Alodia Martínez secured the win in the final meters, edging out her teammate Greta Guerrero. The two engaged in the closest duel of the night, decided in a sprint finish.
Before the main race, the children's races were held, with families and spectators in attendance on Caídos Street. The Councilor for Festivals and Culture, Raquel Cabrerizo , presided over the events and started the races, while Belén Fumanal and Pedré Enrech were in charge of timing, prizes, and finishes.
Castells makes a difference in the men's race
The race, revived in 1980 but with much older roots in the town, once again featured the allure of prize money. More than 300 euros were distributed, contributed by the fan clubs Despeñados , Cubi Karcas , La Jada , and La Sede , the latter with a contribution of 100 euros.
In the early stages, Zaragoza natives Gabriel González , recently crowned European U18 5.000m race walk champion, and Diego Bernad took center stage , particularly active in the early battle for the top spots. Alongside them were Javier Castells, the Spanish-Moroccan Abdeslam El Ouahabi , and Denis Lorda from Zufar.
As the laps progressed, Castells set a pace that proved decisive. The athlete from Monzón opened up a gap and ultimately took the victory ahead of Abdeslam El Ouahabi in second place and Denis Lorda in third.
Alodia Martinez wins the sprint
In the women's category, Greta Guerrero and Alodia Martínez took the lead from the early laps, initially accompanied by the veteran Eva Morraja from Alcañiz . The race ultimately remained in the hands of the two runners from Zaragoza, who maintained their pace until the finish line.
Alodia Martínez triumphed after a very close finish, with Pedré Enrech acting as the finish judge. Greta Guerrero came in second, and Eva Morraja completed the women's podium. Also participating were Laura Rosell and Judith Pérez, from Lleida; Chabeli Cuevas, from Zuera; and María Chavarría , an athlete from CA Fraga representing Ballobarina.
At the end of the race, the overall winners, Javier Castells and Alodia Martínez, and the first local finishers, Ramón Condón and María Chavarría , danced the traditional jota de los pollos , one of the characteristic moments of this event within the San Juan de Ballobar festivities.
