Athletes Naia Portolés and Joaquim Bodineau have received official recognition from the Sagunto City Council. This distinction highlights their effort, perseverance, and great potential in the world of athletics, while also emphasizing the importance of grassroots sports in the city.
Naia Portolés won the silver medal in the 3,000-meter event at the Spanish Indoor Athletics Championship in the U16 category, held in Antequera on March 14. The athlete, who resides in Castellón and trains at the Emilio Villagrasa tracks, has had an excellent season in the U18 category. Her achievements include the regional cross-country championship in Xàtiva, a gold medal by federations and 17th individual place in the Spanish Cross-Country Championship in Córdoba, as well as the regional short track runner-up title in 1,500 meters in Valencia.
For his part, Joaquim Bodineau won the bronze medal in the same distance at the Spanish U16 Championship, held on March 7 at the 'Carlos Gil Pérez' indoor track in the La Aldehuela Sports City, in Salamanca. Bodineau, a resident of Segorbe who regularly trains at the Emilio Villagrasa tracks in Sagunto, has been proclaimed regional cross-country champion in the U16 category in Xàtiva, as well as regional U16 short track champion in 1,000 meters in Valencia. He also participated in the Spanish Cross-Country Championship, both individually and by regional federations representing the Valencian Community, where he achieved 16th individual place and 5th by federations.
“"An ecosystem must be created around them that somehow favors the development of that talent, that work. For this, not only the technical staff of the clubs are important, but also the family around them is fundamental."
The Councilor for Physical Activity, Health and Sports highlighted that these recognitions emphasize the sporting excellence of local athletes. He underscored the importance of the athletes' environment, assuring Naia and Joaquim a promising future and thanking CAEM for its work in promoting local sports. The athletes, for their part, thanked their families and the club for their support, which allows them to enjoy athletics. These results represent a significant boost for local grassroots sports and demonstrate the work of Club Atletismo Español Morvedre in training young talents, as well as the daily effort of both athletes to achieve a high competitive level.
