The competition known worldwide for the symbol of the “golden shoes” is back in Albufeira to celebrate its 35th edition. The Crosse Internacional das Amendoeiras em Flor will bring to the parish of Olhos de Água, on Sunday, the 26th, some of the most famous names in athletics.
On February 26, Cross International das Amendoeiras celebrates 35 years of existence. Behind them, Olympic record holders and champions who made the history of the oldest event in the region were on the honor roll.
Over 35 editions, Cross achieved a unique status in the history of athletics in Portugal. All the runners of the “golden generation” of Portuguese athletics passed through here and the great world values of cross country raced.
The race was born from the excellent weather conditions and the quality of the spaces existing in the Algarve for sports practice. Its name derives from one of the most famous posters in the Algarve – the flowering of almond trees, also known as “vegetable snow”. From January to the end of February, several areas of the Algarve are covered in shades of white and pink, one of the great agricultural resources of southern Portugal. Year after year, this has been the setting for an event that continues to attract thousands of spectators.
The first edition of the Cross Internacional das Amendoeiras took place in Vilamoura, on February 27, 1977. The competition had the participation of athletes from Portugal, France, Great Britain, Sweden and Wales. The victories belonged to two world-renowned Portuguese athletes: Carlos Lopes and Rosa Mota.
For four consecutive years, the competition was held in that tourist resort.
It was in 1981 that the Cross started to take place on the excellent track in Açoteias, where it is also disputed this year. In between, there is a period of three years in which the competition was held again in Vilamoura.
There are more than thirty editions full of emotion, disputed in a scenario of enormous beauty and always with the invaluable contribution of the public and athletes.
Currently, the Cross represents much more than a simple cross-country race. It also includes School Sport, Sport for the Disabled and Training Sport, which bring together around 2000 participants.
This year, the program began on February 15th with the Regional School of Corta Mato and the 22nd National Championship of Cut Forest for the Handicapped.
Check out some of the athletes who will be present on February 26:
Women's
The Portuguese Dulce Félix (3rd European Cuts Matos Championship 2011; 1st European Cuts Mato Championship 2010 by teams; 1st Cross Amendoeiras 2010) and Ana Dias (most international athlete for the Portuguese National Team; 1st European Cuts Championships 2010 by teams) Mato 1 by teams); Aniko Kalovics, from Hungary (2011st I Cross Amendoeiras 1; best European athlete in the last Crosses of the IAFF Circuit; 2010st I San Sebastian 2; 2009nd I Cross Amendoeiras 2); Eunice Jepkorir, from Kenya (10.000nd I 2008m Beijing 4 Olympic Games); Fionnuala Britton, from Ireland (2010th European Championship Corta Mato 2; 2010nd Brussels 1 IAFF); Gulnara Samitova-Galkina, from Russia (3000st I 2008m with hurdles Beijing Olympic Games 3; 2004rd I Indoor World Championships Budapest 1); Jelena Prokopchuka, from Latvia (2009st Cross Almonds 3; 2002rd World Half Marathon XNUMX).
Men
The Portuguese Youssef El Kalai (3rd European Cross Country Championship 2011), José Rocha (3rd European Cross Country Championship 2011), Manuel Damião (1st National Road Athletics Championship 2012), and Marco Morgado (vice -Corta Mato national champion); Kiprono Menjo, from Kenya (1st Cross Amendoeiras 2008, 2009 and 2011).
Program
February 26 (Sunday)
10:00 am Benjamin A: 300m
10:10 am Benjamin B: 600m
10:20 am Children: 1000m
10:35 am Started: 2250m
10:55 I Juvenile/Junior: 3300m
11:15 I Juvenile/Junior: 6000m
11:45 am Senior/Veteran Int.: 6000m
12:15 am Senior/Veteran Int.: 10000m
Winners
MALE
1977I Carlos Lopes
1978 I Greg Meyer
1979I Frank Zimmerman
1980/81 I Fernando Mamede
1982I Christopher Herle
1983 I Fernando Mamede
1984I Frank Zimmerman
1985/86I António Leitão
1987I Vincent Rousseau
1988/89 I José Regalo
1990I Osodoro Ondoro
1991 I Richard Chelimo
1992I Bayesan Tape
1993/94I Osodoro Ondoro
1995I Paulo Guerra
1996I Emerson IserBem
1997/98/99I Tom Nyariki
2000I Charles Kamathi
2001I Patrick Ivut
2002I Tom Nyariki
2003I Patrick Ivut
2004I Did not take place
2005 I Mosop Moses
2006I Peter Kamais
2007I Sergiy Lebid
2008/09I Kiprono Menjo
2010I Mark Brett
2011 I Kiprono Menjo
FEMALE
1977I There were no females
1978I Rosa Mota
1979 I Penny Yule
1980/81 I Wendy Smith
1982/83/84 I Aurora Cunha
1985I Rosa Mota
1986I Ruth Partridge
1987I Ria Landeghem
1988I Angela Tooby
1989 I Albertina Dias
1990I Jeanne Pipoz
1991I Catherine McKiernan
1992I Lychee Yisak
1993 I Tegla Lorupe
1994I Catherine McKiernan
1995/96 I Gabriela Szabo
1997I Elena Fidatov
1998I Julia Vaquero
1999 I Zahara Ouaziz
2000I Gete Wami
2001 I Lydia Cheromei
2002I Berhane Joins
2003I Fernanda Ribeiro
2004I Did not take place
2005 I Nancy Kiprop
2006 I Jelena Prokopchuka
2007- Dorcus Invikuro
2008I Maria Konovalova
2009I Yelena Prokopchuka
2010I Dulce Felix
2011 I Aniko Kalovics
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