The 15th mba media marathon Gijón "Villa de Jovellanos" took place on 10 October, marking a new edition characterised by a record number of participants, with 3,000 entrants, and Ethiopian athletes dominating the men's and women's classifications.
In the men's category, Altaseb Awoke Tafes claimed victory with a time of 1:04:02, finishing ahead of compatriot Negash Hailu Ader, who secured second place, and Guillermo Martínez-Lage Marquina, who came in third. The women's race was won by Sisay Eshetu Dida, who completed the 21,097 metres in 1:12:39, narrowly beating Katherine Tisalema Puruncaja, who finished just six seconds behind. Bikile Teferi Leta rounded out the women's podium.
The marathon route showcased some of Gijón's key areas, starting at the Las Mestas Sports Complex and featuring an officially certified urban course of 21,097 metres. Participants faced a challenging race, complemented by the enthusiastic support of spectators along the route.
One of the standout features of this edition was the increase in participation. The event reached 3,000 registrations, surpassing the previous year's total of 2,500 and solidifying its status as one of the major events in popular athletics in Gijón. The race attracted both competitive athletes aiming for top positions and recreational runners taking on the challenge of completing the 21 kilometres.
Jorge Pañeda, the Councillor for Sports and Education and president of the Municipal Sports Board, attended the day's events alongside representatives from sponsoring companies, supporting the organisation and athletes in an edition that once again highlighted its high participation rates. Organised by the Municipal Sports Board and the Gijón Athletics Sports Association, the mba media marathon Gijón "Villa de Jovellanos" has concluded its fifteenth edition with a new record of entrants and a day of athletics that transformed the city's streets into a stage for one of the principal long-distance events in Gijón's sporting calendar.
