The Nationale-Nederlanden San Silvestre Vallecana 2024 is preparing to celebrate this Tuesday, December 31, a “special” 60th anniversary of its international event, it will be the 47th popular edition, with a female presence that will account for 40% of the total registrations.
The Daoíz y Velarde Municipal Sports Center in Madrid hosted the presentation of the international event with some of the great stars of this year’s race. At the event, two of the most veterans took the floor to highlight the “special” character of Vallecana.
“I encourage all the participants to enjoy this special test. I remember the final part with many people. We went up to the stadium, it was very cold but the human warmth was very great. I am grateful to all the participants because we are 40%” said Rosa Mota, winner in 1991 (38:45).
For his part, the winner in 2003, Chema Martínez, celebrated having “seen” a “very special” career grow. “I have seen how it has become the best 10k race in the world. I am going to go out to die, to do everything I can, and to win the applause of all the people. I hope to be around 31 minutes, I am going to go out to until the body can bear it,” he said.
Among the Spanish representatives in the international event, Adel Mechaal is one of the great options, and the podium is his goal. “The San Silvestre is special, I have run it several times, but I haven’t been back in a while. I have a personal goal of achieving one of the best times of a Spaniard in the race, fighting for the podium and being the fastest Spaniard,” he wished. .
Nor will a Red Yago miss it, who arrives at the event after suffering a stress injury to his femur after the Games, an injury that forced him to stop for “two months.” “I wanted to close the year running here. I haven’t done great training and I think I will accuse it, although I have seen many miracles in this race. I am left with the atmosphere that is generated,” he expressed.
And, although he is “six hours from home”, Adrián Ben will also run through the streets of Madrid this Tuesday afternoon. “The only way to get me out of that environment with family and friends was this race,” the Galician confessed during the presentation.
This men’s category promises a stellar duel between the Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo and the Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi, who defends victory. The first won in 2018, and is coming this year to give his “best version” and “make a personal mark.” “What I remember most about the race is that people shouted a lot,” he said, while the current winner is going to “run as fast as he can,” in a race to which he arrives “in shape.”
In the women’s event, Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich, current marathon world record holder (2:09.56), is the big favorite. “I was resting for three weeks after breaking the world record in Chicago and tomorrow I hope to be able to beat Brigid Kosgei’s record of 29:54 in 2018,” he wished, before the Ethiopian Adawork Aberta, eighth in the Seville marathon, and who wants lower his personal best, which is 32:27.
A Spanish athlete has not won the event since Marta Domínguez in 2008, and none has gone under 33 minutes. However, the national representation in the international this year will be very large. “This race is brutal, it was incredible the first time. The public is very enthusiastic. I really want to enjoy it, give my best and be able to do a good job,” said Águeda Marqués.
Marta García, bronze in the European Championship in Rome in 5,000 meters -with a Spanish record-, who is making her debut in the race, will also participate. “I have no brand in mind but it is the first time that I face a road test, I don’t know if I was specifically preparing for it but we have done a block of training thinking about the first serious 10k of my entire career,” he acknowledged.
Laura Luengo is also “very excited” and sees the San Silvestre Vallecana as “a good opportunity to finish the year running.” While Laura Priego, first Spanish in 2021 and 2023, knows that it will be “complicated because the lineup is incredible.” “We have the best national female elite, this race is spectacular and I think we can experience great marks. It is my favorite race, I have not experienced another in which the public gives it everything,” she praised about a race that will have 40% of female registrations.
Finally, Carolina Robles, specialized in 3000 m obstacles, commented that she has prepared this test “conscientiously”, so she hopes “to be the first Spaniard and be able to get on the podium.” “It is the first time that I am going to race on this circuit because in 2020 it was the covid and it was somewhere else. I hope to finish the race well and make a podium,” he concluded.