On Saturday, the Benidorm Half Marathon announced the winners of the 2024 edition in both the half marathon and 10K distances in the men's and women's categories. Luis Agustín Escriche took victory in the 21K with a time of 1:07:23 in the men's race, and Laura Méndez did the same in the women's race with a time of 1:16:35, also breaking the race record. In the 10K, the winner was David Palacio, who stopped the clock at 30:08, and the women's champion was María Fuentes, with a time of 34:00. A total of 6,500 runners competed in the two distances, enjoying approved circuits included in the RFEA calendar, passing by the Balcón del Mediterráneo.

The race started at 5:30 p.m. and paid special tribute to the victims of the tragedy caused by the DANA. The start and finish line displayed a message in memory of the deceased and all the people and areas affected, and showed the Senyera flag with black crepe. The Benidorm Half 2024 circuit, with a route framed by the skyline of the city of tourism par excellence, started on Avenida Comunidad Valenciana (corner of Calle Bélgica) and finished in the Plaza de SS.MM los Reyes de España in Benidorm (Town Hall).

In the Half Marathon, Luis Agustín Escriche (CA Albacete-Diputación) was the champion of this edition of the Benidorm Half Marathon 2024 with a time of 1:07:23. Escriche arrived as the 2024 Spanish Team Marathon Champion and the 2023 Valencia Provincial Circuit Champion. Second place went to Marius Garman (Independent) with a time of 1:08:39, completing the podium was Constan Jaén (AC Manchathon), with a time of 1:09:10.

I wanted to come here to win, and I did it. In terms of how I felt, it was up and down, but I was able to push through and keep up the pace to get the win, which was the important thing. The crowd carried us along, and the organisers took great care of us. I'm looking forward to coming back next year,’ said Luis Agustín Escriche.

Laura Méndez (Independent) from Valencia was crowned champion of the Benidorm Half 2024. But what's more, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic marathon runner did so in style, as the Almussafes native, who lives in Puerto de Sagunto, set a time of 1:16:35, beating the race record held by María José de Toro (1:18:58, in 2023). De Toro (Atletismo CP La Roda) came second in 2024 with a time of 1:21:25, while Rebekka Birkeland (Independent) finished third with a time of 1:22:45.

"I felt good. I'm at a slightly different point in my sporting career because I trained a little less this summer as I needed to “reset” a bit, and I'm slowly starting to enjoy it again. I'm really happy. In the first few kilometres, I was helping my training partner Ainhoa; I ran with her until kilometre 9 and then I tried to keep up a pace so that they wouldn't catch up with me from behind. The atmosphere here in Benidorm is spectacular and I felt really comfortable with the warmth of the crowd and the organisation," said Laura Méndez. 

In the 10K, athlete David Palacio (Scorpio 71), in his third appearance at the Benidorm event, won with a time of 30:08. He had finished second twice in previous events, but in 2024 he was crowned overall champion in the 10,000 metres. The second to cross the finish line was Harry Johnson (Halifax Harriers), who recorded a time of 30:34, followed by the third athlete to cross the finish line in the 10K with a time of 31:10, Rubén Monreal (Atletismo Numantino), who completed the podium.

‘Third time lucky. I'm very happy, I felt great throughout the race. In fact, it was my best time out of the three times I've competed in Benidorm, and I enjoyed it very much once again this year. The organisation is top notch, and I can only congratulate and thank them,’ explained David Palacio. 

In the women's race, María Fuentes Olcina (Club Atletismo Elda-Egari) was crowned champion of the Benidorm Half 10K with a time of 34:00, followed by Julie Lejarraga (Metasport) with a time of 35:04, while Ainhoa Martín (Facsa-Playas de Castellón) finished third with a time of 35:29. María Fuentes' time also broke the Benidorm race record, previously held by Mari Luz Tesuri with a time of 34:02, achieved in 2023.

‘I felt great right from the start. I managed my race based on how I felt, I didn't look at my watch because I knew it was a tough circuit, which I did last year. I finished strong and finally got the win. The organisation, the crowd, the course and the atmosphere are all reasons to be very happy. I'll be back next year, but for the half marathon,’ said María Fuentes.

Olympic and Paralympic figures

This edition of the Benidorm Half Marathon was attended by Olympic and Paralympic figures as well as elite athletes. In the 21K distance, the Valencian Laura Méndez, who competed in the Tokyo 2020 Marathon, was there in Olympic mode. The 10K race featured Fermín Cacho, who was a double Olympic medallist in the 1,500 metres: first, a historic gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games, then a silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games. The 10K also featured Arturo Casado, who competed in the 1,500 metres at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. More recently, just last summer, Paralympic marathon runner Carmen Paredes competed in Paris 2024 and, previously, in Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016.

A benchmark event that continues to grow

The Benidorm Half 2024, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Half Marathon, had a total of 6,500 participants registered for the 21K and 10K, with very similar numbers, almost fifty per cent for each distance. The total number of participants is the highest ever for the Benidorm event and is a benchmark within the province of Alicante.

The figures go even further with a notable milestone in terms of foreign participation: 48% came from 25 different countries (3,210 people will arrive in Benidorm from outside Spain), but specifically 43.1% will do so as residents of the United Kingdom (2,800). In addition to the British, the top ten countries are Norway, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, France and Germany.

Fifty-two per cent of the runners are Spanish (3,290), representing a total of 46 provinces. Almost half of these, 23%, come from Alicante; the top ten continues with Valencia, Madrid, Albacete, Murcia, Toledo, Cuenca, Ciudad Real, Castellón and Barcelona.

Of the total number of 6,500 registered participants, 61.4% are men and 38.6% are women. By distance, in the case of the 10K, 53.1% will be men and 46.9% women; in the 21K, 69.4% are men and 30.6% are women. To analyse how these figures translate in terms of impact after the race, a study will be carried out by the Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences at the University of Valencia.

For the safety of the runners, extensive medical facilities were provided, including a mobile intensive care unit, six ambulances, a field hospital, twelve doctors, ten paramedics and 35 members of the Red Cross.

The Benidorm Half Marathon is organised by Tour-Sport Promociones Deportivas and has the institutional support of Benidorm City Council, Visit Benidorm and Turismo de la Comunitat Valenciana, while the private sponsors are Meliá Benidorm, Coca-Cola and Sala Marina.