Fran Queralt wins 44th Volta a Peu de Quartell race with record turnout
In Quartell, a village in the Camp de Morvedre district near Sagunto, local runner Fran Queralt won the 44th Volta a Peu (5km foot race) in 16:20, in an event with 350 participants last weekend.
Runner Fran Queralt, from Lostado Team, set a fast pace from the first metres and beat Carlos Medina (16:43) and Ayoub El Abboudi (16:45), who completed the men's podium. In the women's category, Laura Libros, from Redolat Team, won with a time of 19 minutes.
Of the 350 runners, 70 were residents of Quartell itself — a notable share, since the village has just over 1,800 registered inhabitants. The race is traditionally one of the sporting events that open the week before the local patron saint festivities, which in Quartell take place in the second half of July and end with the traditional 'Plantà del Pí' ('Planting of the Pine'), when young people from the village plant a pine tree in the main square.
Sports councillor Ferran Alabadí said the strong local turnout reflects municipal efforts to encourage physical activity from childhood, aiming to counter child obesity and sedentary habits. The day also included a tribute to José Antonio Gómez 'El Tato' and Rosa Soriano, longtime regulars of the race. According to El Periódico de Aquí, with additional background from Wikipedia.