The Municipal Sports Board has announced the addition of Ignacio Fontés and Marta Serrano, last year's winners, who will aim to retain their titles at the 38th International Autumn Mile “Manuel Pancorbo”. The event, now in its thirty-eighth edition, will take place on Monday, October 12th, on the circuit located at Virgen de la Cabeza street.
The participation of Mohamed Attaoui, the 2024 champion and last year's runner-up, and Carla Gallardo, a two-time Spanish champion, has also been confirmed. Gallardo will be competing in the Jaén event for the third consecutive time, with her best previous result being a third place in the thirty-sixth edition.
Ignacio Fontés, an athlete from Granada, boasts an impressive record in the mile, including two victories and a second-place finish. He comes from a consistent 1,500-meter outdoor season, with wins in other urban miles and a personal best of 3:33.42. Despite meeting the minimum qualifying standard, his exclusion from the European Championships in Birmingham caused controversy. He was selected for the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen but ultimately did not participate.
Mohamed Attaoui will compete in the Jaén mile for the third time, having won in 2024 (ahead of Fontes and Ronaldo Olivo) and securing second place last year behind Fontés. His season highlights include a bronze medal in the 800 meters at the European Championships in Birmingham and a victory in Turku, Finland, with a time of 3:31.82.
These athletes join the previously confirmed Daniel Arce and David Barroso in the men's category. In the women's race, Marta Serrano, last year's winner, led from start to finish. The Madrid-based athlete has achieved her third consecutive Spanish national title in the 3,000m steeplechase and was a finalist in the European Championships.
Carla Gallardo, a two-time national champion, will run her third Manuel Pancorbo mile, having achieved fourth and fifth places in previous appearances. Despite an illness that impacted her preparation for the European Championships in Birmingham, she qualified for the final. In the women's field, María Forero and Marta Mitjans are also confirmed.
