This year, once again, the Cross Nocturno Saxun Villa de Sax, organised by Giménez Ganga, has been a great sporting festival. On this occasion, the registrations, set at a limit of 1,500 runners, were completed within a few hours of announcing the deadline.
On the day of the race, 1,362 runners crossed the finish line, amidst great expectation and a devoted public that cheered them on for the entire course.
Adil Moussaoui, with a time of 0:25:39, managed claim the winning trophy. It was the first time he had run it and he told us that he "came to win” -and he did! Andrés Micó Martínez came in second with a time of 0:25:50, completing the men's podium with the previous year’s winner, Francisco Maciá García, with a time of 0:26:15.
In the female category, the young Sandra Romero Peño, from Sájora, was the clear winner of the race, with a time of 0:31:56. With only three years in the sport, she has managed to win in her home town, which was very exciting and rewarding for her. In second place came Marta Soto, with a time of 0:32:56 and, as in the men's category, third place went to last year's winner, Blanca García Pardo, with a time of 0:33:25.
This popular race runs through the central and historic streets of Sax. Once night falls, it becomes a real "Urban circuit, night challenge".
The sporting festival began early in the morning with the collection of race numbers in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. A charitable collection, in which runners handed over non-perishable foodstuffs and staple products to Caritas. We would like to thank them for their participation and response to our charitable appeal.
Throughout the afternoon, prior to the stipulated starting time of 19:00, the streets of Sax became a hive of public spectators, runners and organisers, all eager to enjoy this popular sporting event.
We did not miss on the souvenir photo opportunities in front of our vintage Giménez Ganga lorry, on the podium or in front of the Embassy Castle, installed on the occasion of the upcoming Moors and Christians festivals.
Minutes before the start of the race, the start line, located on Pascual Carrión Avenue, was filled with hundreds of competitors, all willing to run and enjoy the great atmosphere generated by this popular race.
This year, the runners enjoyed a much more atmospheric and lively start, with screens displaying messages of encouragement and memories of past races. In addition, this screen served as a countdown to the start of the event, creating a greater sense of anticipation for everyone present.
The 8-kilometre circuit, illuminated by festive lighting, once again became an intersection of narrow streets and bends as the runners entered the historic quarter, with a special mention given to the steepness of the popular “coastal” street, which ends in the festive and moving Plaza de la Ermita de San Blas.
From there, the crowds gathered at the gates of the barracks and festive venues cheered the runners on with great gusto. Once back on the Gran Vía, the runners approached the finish line in the Plaza Cervantes, receiving a final boost from the cheering crowd.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the runners for their participation in this sporting event, as well as the spectators who suppored them. They are all architects of the success of this popular race.
The group Zancadas sobre ruedas (Strides on Wheels) and their great spirit of self-improvement deserves another special mention. Thanks also to the Instituto de Educación Secundaria Pascual Carrión de Sax for the large number of entries and for promoting sport among younger people, and to the many sports clubs in the area that have taken part, the largest numbers this year coming from the Club Atletismo Promesas de Villena.
But what most motivates us is the feedback we get from the runners; their comments and appreciation: : “Congratulations to the organisation, the volunteers, and to all the people who were cheering or playing instruments in the street...it's great to run this race and we hope to see you again next year".
We already have a date for the 15th edition. Saturday, 24 January!
We look forward to seeing you all.
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