Cross Internacional de Itálica

The Cross Internacional de Itálica is one of the world's leading cross-country meetings. Founded in 1982 and organised by the Diputación de Sevilla, the provincial government, together with Santiponce town council and the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation, it holds World Athletics Gold Level status. It is run inside the Conjunto Arqueológico de Itálica in Santiponce, a few kilometres north-west of Seville. Founded by Scipio Africanus in 206 BC, Italica was the birthplace of the emperors Trajan and Hadrian; its amphitheatre and mosaics, such as the Medusa mosaic in the House of the Planetarium, make a unique backdrop for a running race.

The weekend opens on Saturday at 18:30 with the long popular cross-country race, a mixed night race over 7.18 km, three laps of the main circuit, for seniors and masters. It has become one of the most sought-after races among runners in the Seville area and is capped at 1,000 entrants. On Sunday, the short popular race covers 4.81 km, two laps of the same circuit: men start at 11:00 and women at 13:05. A combined entry lets runners take on both distances.

In between the two popular races come the international events over 9.55 km, four laps of the circuit: women at 11:40 and men at 12:25. They are restricted to athletes with a qualifying time certified by their federation, and every year the field brings together top African and European runners in front of thousands of spectators. In 2025, Olympic 3,000 m steeplechase champion Winfred Yavi and Burundi's Rodrigue Kwizera took the wins.

The day ends at 14:45 with the mixed popular relay: teams of four, two women and two men, share 5.6 km, four laps of the short circuit. Up to fifty teams can take part, from the under-18 category upwards. In the morning, from 09:00, the youth categories have their own races, from under-18 down to under-10, and a 100 m dash on the finishing straight is laid on for the youngest children.

Bibs are collected at the race expo at the Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento hotel on Friday from 17:00 to 21:00 and on Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 21:00. On Sunday, a desk on the course hands them out from 08:00 until one hour before each race; no bibs are issued on site on Saturday, so night-race runners must go to the expo. Santiponce is reached via the S-30 and the N-630, with parking at the football ground opposite the entrance to Italica, and by intercity bus from Seville. Online entries open in early October.