With the presence of the last champion aiming for his fifth medal, Federico Bruno, and the Uruguayan athlete, Andres Zamora, who was crowned champion of the race in 2010, the press conference and presentation of the thirty-ninth edition of the province's premier athletic event were held this Friday. The welcome to the elite athletes who are already beginning to arrive in our city was given by the Secretary of Sports Marcelo Cresto, representing the Mayor Enrique Cresto, and Marcelo Flores, Director of the organization in charge of the race.
The head of the municipality's sports department, Marcelo Cresto, highlighted that "we have done a great job, conscientiously, to have every organizational detail ready" for this edition of the Marathon. "We have prepared a security and emergency plan that is rarely seen in a competition like this in the entire country," he stressed, referring to the 14 ambulances that will be positioned along the 10 kilometers, and the 3 motorcycles equipped with defibrillators that complement the planned operation.
In addition, the Argentine Red Cross will provide 30 volunteers who will be in the final kilometers of the competition, which are the most demanding. He also pointed out that they have the support and active collaboration of the Entre Ríos Police, and the different areas of the Municipality, such as the Secretariat of Public Works which carried out a supervision of the entire circuit and pothole repairs, or the Directorate of Electrotechnics which readied the innovative LED lighting, and the Traffic Center which arranged a special vehicle control operation for this Saturday, among other areas.
And after acknowledging "the selfless collaboration of the clubs and sports groups that will be collaborating at the water stations" and "the entire team of the Secretariat of Sports that has been working permanently for several weeks," Cresto assured that "what makes the Reyes Marathon greater is the support and participation of the people," he emphasized.
"Marcelo Cresto and I have been working together for many years in the organization of marathons," noted Marcelo Flores, Director of the Marathon, in his turn. "And I assure you that the entire operation that will be in place tomorrow so that everyone can enjoy this race has not been seen before, both for the elite athletes and all the runners from Concordia who participate, giving a unique color to the Reyes Marathon," he maintained.
Esteban Roldán, one of the athletes who arrived in the city and has been participating in a wheelchair since 2005, pointed out that "not coming to this Marathon would be like retiring from athletics. I always tell all the athletes that the best Marathon in the entire country is the Reyes in Concordia, because of the encouragement the public gives us to finish the race. This is one of the most successful marathons in the country," he emphasized.
Zamora, an international athlete who will participate in the competition, "after four years of not being able to come," highlighted that "this race has a special ingredient, which is the heat and humidity. And that it has Fede (Bruno), who is the best athlete in South America." Therefore, "it is a great challenge to try to beat him here, in his home and with his people," said the Uruguayan who already won the Reyes in 2010.
Finally, the local Bruno assured that "I am at 100 percent." And he thanked "the two Marcelos (Flores and Cresto) and the Mayor, Enrique (Cresto), for everything they have worked for this race and for always supporting me." The defender of the crown said that "I come to enjoy this festival" and that "my mind is set on winning it again."
During the press conference, Javier Pagoda, Director of Sports, and the Coordinator of Events of the Municipality, Matías Armanazqui, were present, as well as several of the athletes who will run this Saturday in our city, giving life to the most important athletic event of the year in Concordia and of national significance.