Cross de Atapuerca
Encyclopedia
The Cross Internacional de Atapuerca is an annual cross country running
competition that takes place in Atapuerca
, Spain
. Established in 2004, it takes place in early November and is among the first major competitions of the cross country season. In its initial years, it was usually the first permit meeting in the European Athletic Association
's cross country season, and it now begins the IAAF Permit Meeting series, having replaced the Cross de Soria event in 2010.
The Cross de Atapuerca has attracted high calibre athletes, including World Cross Country Champions
Gebregziabher Gebremariam and Leonard Komon
, and Marta Domínguez
– the 2009 World Champion
in the steeplechase
. Around 2500 athletes took part in the 2009 race, which was broadcast on Teledeporte
, the sports channel of Spain's state broadcaster TVE. It is part of the Spanish cross country running circuit and was ranked as the country's second best meet in 2008.
The distances for the professional senior competitions are 8.760 km for men and 4.825 km for women. In addition to the elite races, a separate mass race is held for amateur runners. The Cross de Atapuerca also features a number of different categories and distances based on age: four levels for children, youth (under 16s) and junior (under 18s) competitions, and finally a masters race for runners over 35.
The course of the race traces a path through the fields around the town of Atapuerca and passes through the Archaeological Site of Atapuerca before looping back to complete a circuit.
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
competition that takes place in Atapuerca
Atapuerca (town)
Atapuerca is a municipality located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2005 census , the municipality has a population of 195 inhabitants. It encompasses the Archaeological Site of Atapuerca. The small town plays host to an annual cross country running event—the...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Established in 2004, it takes place in early November and is among the first major competitions of the cross country season. In its initial years, it was usually the first permit meeting in the European Athletic Association
European Athletic Association
The European Athletic Association is the European governing body for the sport of athletics.- History :In 1932, during a meeting of the International Amateur Athletic Federation in Los Angeles, a special committee was designated by the Council with the task of reviewing the conditions for the...
's cross country season, and it now begins the IAAF Permit Meeting series, having replaced the Cross de Soria event in 2010.
The Cross de Atapuerca has attracted high calibre athletes, including World Cross Country Champions
IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Held annually and organised by International Association of Athletics Federations , it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the International Cross Country Championships...
Gebregziabher Gebremariam and Leonard Komon
Leonard Komon
Leonard Patrick Komon is a Kenyan long-distance runner and the current world record holder in the 10 kilometres and 15 km road races....
, and Marta Domínguez
Marta Domínguez
Marta Domínguez Azpeleta is a Spanish runner. She was accused of drug dealing and but later acquitted .Dominguez currently competes mainly in 3000 m steeplechase, a distance in which she was the 2009 world champion...
– the 2009 World Champion
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
in the steeplechase
Steeplechase (athletics)
The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...
. Around 2500 athletes took part in the 2009 race, which was broadcast on Teledeporte
Teledeporte
Teledeporte is a Spanish sports channel owned by TVE, launched in 1994 through Hispasat. It was the second sports channel to launch in Spain, after Eurosport and before Sportmanía or Canal+ Deporte. It broadcast the main Spanish and international sports events...
, the sports channel of Spain's state broadcaster TVE. It is part of the Spanish cross country running circuit and was ranked as the country's second best meet in 2008.
The distances for the professional senior competitions are 8.760 km for men and 4.825 km for women. In addition to the elite races, a separate mass race is held for amateur runners. The Cross de Atapuerca also features a number of different categories and distances based on age: four levels for children, youth (under 16s) and junior (under 18s) competitions, and finally a masters race for runners over 35.
The course of the race traces a path through the fields around the town of Atapuerca and passes through the Archaeological Site of Atapuerca before looping back to complete a circuit.
Past elite race winners
| Edition | Year | Men's winner | Women's winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | 2004 | ||
| II | 2005 | ||
| III | 2006 | ||
| IV | 2007 | ||
| V | 2008 | ||
| VI | 2009 | ||
| VII | 2010 | ||
| VIII | 2011 |
External links
- Official website
- ANOC profile
- Race profile from RFEA