13 Dec
The weekend of 8th and 9th December 2012 saw the streets of Costa Teguise thronging with athletes, families and spectators for the Lanzarote International Marathon organised and staged by Sands Beach Resort.
Now in in its 23rd year, the event attracted 800 athletes from 22 countries to participate in the marathon, half marathon and 10km distance races over courses set around the popular holiday resort of Costa Teguise. Notching up a family double in the full marathon distance were British athletic family Stephen and Bella Bayliss who finished first for the men and women respectively.
Sands Beach Resort sponsored athletes enjoyed success on their home ground with Victor Del Corral taking the tape in an exciting finish in the half marathon ahead of Nico Ward Muñez who finished in third place while Olympian Jose Carlos Hernandez romped to victory in the 10km distance.
The youngest athletes took to the tarmac on Saturday morning in three age groups to run distances of 500 metres, 1km and 2km in the Kid’s Marathon. While mums and dads swelled with pride for their budding Bolts, the crowd were swept along on a wave of emotion by the sight of disabled youngsters Claudia Sanchez who completed the race in her wheelchair accompanied by Paralympian Rafa Botello, and Anthony Fernandez who achieved his ambition of completing the race on foot, supported and encouraged by an escort of disabled and able bodied athletes.
Lanzarote International Marathon attracts the largest number of wheelers of any other competition in Europe outside London and 25 parathletes competed in an exciting race which was won with a split second margin by Roger Puigbo.
Athletes and spectators showered praise on the volunteers and staff of Sands Beach Resort for their excellent organisation of the event which is now one of Lanzarote’s major sporting events and ensures its future with the weekend of 7th and 8th December 2013 already marked on the calendar for next year’s event.
Email John Beckley for more information.