The San Silvestre Eldense unfolded along Elda’s streets, wrapping the city in a lively year-end mood. A total of 6,454 registrations were logged, and 4,548 runners crossed the line, marking a robust return after a two-year pause. The event drew attention across the Alicante province and the Valencian Community, underscoring its local importance and rising appeal among runners and spectators alike.
Last-minute tips to join the San Silvestre Eldense
Distance: 4.5 kilometers. The course attracted elite and mid-distance runners from the Valencia region. Abderrahman Al Hayami, a Moroccan athlete based in Sagunto for twenty years, delivered a commanding performance. He finished in 9 minutes 57 seconds, shaving a few seconds from his 2019 best of 10 minutes 4 seconds. Al Hayami earned a 300-euro prize for the win, with the second-place finisher securing 150 euros and also beating the prior mark. Mohamed Reda came in second with 10 minutes 2 seconds, while Youssef Ben Hadi of the Ibiza Athletics Club placed third in 10 minutes 8 seconds. The top Spanish finisher was Javier Mirón, representing New Balance, who finished in 10 minutes 21 seconds.
In the women’s race, a Valencian athlete from PA Valencia, Rosalía Tárraga, claimed victory with a time around 11 minutes, just one second shy of the Elda test record. Laura Domene of Motasport finished second at 11 minutes 50 seconds, and Sara Alemany from the University of Alicante took third with 12 minutes 8 seconds. The young runner Andrea Rodríguez from Aspe, connected with Playas de Castellón, ended fourth with 12 minutes 32 seconds and also holds the title of 800m junior Spanish champion.
The local field showcased strong performances among male athletes, led by Marcos Sanchez Deltell with a 10:57 finish. He was followed by Carlos Moreno García at 11:19 and Carlos Martínez Miya at 11:42.
Among the veterans, the women’s segment saw Eva Sánchez Pastor triumph with 12:50, followed by Maria Carbonell García at 13:21 and Ruby in 14:07.
The 40th edition of the San Silvestre de Elda highlighted a Veterans over 45 competition where Miguel Sánchez Cebrián won with 11:22, José González Cuenca at 11:35, and José Arenas Torrejón at 12:08.
In the veterans’ women’s division, Susana Hamer led with a time around 15:00, followed by Pilar Palao at 16:06 and Paqui Tárraga at 16:17.
The Eldense test returned with notable energy and prestige, evident in the top overall standings for both men and women. Beyond the elite athletes, a large group of runners participated in costumes and festive outfits, treating the race as a celebratory event that blended competition with local tradition and community spirit.