Triathlon and badminton athletes from Baena secured three podium finishes in regional competitions this past weekend. José Manuel Muñoz led the performance for Triatlón Baena by winning the V3 category at the II Triatlón Cross Faro Sacratif, while the Club Bádminton Baena returned from the Andalucía TOP TTR in Rute with two medals earned by Juan José Lastres.
Muñoz secures V3 victory in Torrenueva Costa
The II Triatlón Cross Faro Sacratif, held on Saturday, September 26, served as the final event of the 2026 V Andalucía Cross Triathlon Cup and the adult calendar for the Diputación de Granada Provincial Triathlon Circuit. The race in Torrenueva Costa drew 89 participants, marking a 29% increase in attendance compared to the inaugural edition.
José Manuel Muñoz represented Triatlón Baena, finishing the course in a total time of 1 hour, 49 minutes, and 54 seconds. This performance placed him 42nd in the overall men’s classification and secured him the top spot in the V3 veteran category.
The competition required athletes to complete a 1-kilometer swim, a 21.5-kilometer mountain bike segment, and a 6-kilometer run. Muñoz began the swim in 17:51, averaging 1:47 per 100 meters, and exited the water in 33rd place. He maintained an average speed of 21.10 km/h during the mountain bike portion, completing it in 1:01:08. He finished his race with the 6-kilometer run, recording a time of 30:54, or 5:09 per kilometer.
The overall men’s victory went to Antonio José Cardona, while Ana Estévez claimed the top position in the women’s division.
Lastres earns double podium in Rute
Concurrent with the triathlon, the Club Bádminton Baena competed at the Andalucía TOP TTR for the Sub-15 and Sub-19 categories, hosted at the Gregorio Piedra municipal pavilion in Rute. The club sent a seven-member delegation, including Mario Castillo, Victoria de la Torre, Sergio Fuentes, Juan José Lastres, María Mérida, Rafael Mérida, and Raúl Molina.
Juan José Lastres produced the club’s strongest individual results, earning two medals. He secured a silver medal in the Sub-15 Men’s Singles after a tightly contested final. Lastres added a second medal to his count by taking bronze in the Sub-15 Men’s Doubles, competing alongside partner Mario Castillo.
The tournament also highlighted the development of the club’s younger players. In the Sub-19 category, Rafael Mérida and Sergio Fuentes successfully advanced past the group stage to reach the elimination rounds. Raúl Molina also competed in the Sub-19 division, narrowly missing a spot in the semifinals after losing a match that extended to three sets.
The club viewed the participation of its seven athletes as a key opportunity to measure the progress of its youth academy across both age groups as the season continues.
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