The Varadero Half Marathon does ring. Like a crystalline wave that breaks on the fine sands of what is considered the second best spa in the world. It sounds because in the circuit approved and certified by the World Athletics and the International Association of Sports Marathons, more than 1,500 runners gathered to cover the different routes, (3 kilometers-popular, ten, and half marathon).
It sounds because it has become a hymn to life, after two years in detention due to the scourge of the Covid-19 pandemic, and because he, like no other walkers who crossed the sentence line, whatever it was its location, they had the immense privilege of seeing their participatory medals hang from the hands of the Olympic champions María Caridad Colón and Alberto Juantorena. They were joined by several others such as Anier García, Dayron Robles and Osdileydis Menéndez…
It sounds because the fresh sea breeze, in addition to boosting and becoming an extra injection of energy for the runners, was an accomplice of the love of a couple, of the group of friends, of the mother who after two years ran with her daughter in a car, because in the last edition I had it in my womb without having any knowledge… It sounds because it fills me with pride to see stars of the stature of Ana Fidelia Quirós, our “Caribbean Storm”, cover a segment of a dozen kilometers, share with walkers from town, with ease take selfies with runners before the start and then at the sentencing line.
It sounds for the airs of security, brotherhood, solidarity and humanism that reigned, among participants; skaters and marchers at the Saturday aperitif, who premiered the new layout; organizers, and all those gathered from the municipality of Cárdenas in Matanzas to live a party that also bets on quality of life, and on the interweaving of sports and sustainable tourism, another edge to size the most famous spa in the Greater Antilles, to continue with the musical echo of footsteps, laughter, and success.
Yield footprints
Francisco Ronnie Estévez Quintero could be said to be in the hype. His shoes are still smoking from his triumph in the 10,000 meters of the Cuba Cup and now he won the main test of Varadero, the half marathon with a time of 1:10:19 hours. The boy from Bejucal, nicknamed “el White” and who has among his greatest incentives to train the company of his dog Star, as he confessed to the Deporcuba blog, needed three appearances to achieve his goal, a laurel that adds to the scepter in the also El Cacahual half marathon.
On this occasion he was seconded by the Spanish and pre-competition favorite judging by his registration record (1:07:00 hours), Bruno Villazón, who now stopped the clocks at 1:10:43; and Cristian De Los Santos from Santiago (1:13:39). It should be noted that the best record of the Varadero Half Marathon is held by the Kenyan Timothy Kiplagat, owner of 1:02:51 golden hours in the 2019 version.
For its part, the highest honors among ladies corresponded to Yumisleydi Mestre Heredia from Mayabeque (1:18:54), Yudisleyvis Castillo (1:28:32) and Yelenia Jerez (1:43:57). In the case of Yumisleydi, honoring her best time among the contenders of 1: 15.52.
Meanwhile, Alejandro M. Rodríguez, from the capital, reigned in the men’s ten kilometers (31:24 minutes); emulated by Milena Pérez from Villa Clara (37:37) among the ladies.
The resurrection of the Varadero Half Marathon, like all positive reunions, came from the hand of Saturday novelties, such as the celebration of a race march with some thirty participants in a 10-kilometre circuit, with Ronaldo Hernández from Guantanamo (46 :21 minutes), and Talia Valdés from Granma (59:30).
To which several skating tests were added, at distances of 100 lane meters and half marathon. The greatest honors here went to the Havanan and a reference in this discipline in our country, Adriana Cantillo, at a rate of 11.24 seconds in the female hectometer from 16 to 26 years old, and she was also titled in the 21-kilometer race. She was joined by Héctor Caballero from Camagüey (10.16) in speed; and David Quintero from the capital in the half marathon.
The Varadero Half Marathon sounds, I repeat, because to all of the above we must add an organizational capacity of excellence, a respectful public, encouraging and accomplice of the walkers, a festive atmosphere from start to finish, and the subsequent possibility of having a dip in the most renowned beach in our country, even with stars from Olympus nearby.
Then, you will be able to have all the results of the race in the following link:
https://sportmaniacs.com/en/races/half-marathon-varadero-2022/62406e73-7…
