Nelson Correia, an athlete from Cabo Verde's Emicela Team, emerged victorious in the 17km Grande Trail Serra d'Arga in Portugal on October 4. He completed the challenging course in 1 hour, 35 minutes, and 7 seconds. This victory marks Correia's second win in this event, having also taken the top spot in the 2025 edition. The Grande Trail Serra d'Arga is a prominent trail running event held in the Serra d'Arga region of Portugal.
Samuel Teixeira, another athlete from the Emicela Team Cabo Verde, secured the second position in the 17km race with a time of 1 hour, 36 minutes, and 11 seconds. The Portuguese athlete João da Cruz rounded out the podium, finishing third with a time of 1 hour, 37 minutes, and 13 seconds. The Emicela Team Cabo Verde had a strong showing in the event, with Manuel Miranda finishing fourth and Bruce Santos seventh in the 17km race.
Nelson Correia expressed his satisfaction with the win, stating that it was another objective achieved. He had a less-than-expected performance in the previous week's race, finishing fourth, but managed to elevate his game to secure the victory. Correia attributed the competitive nature of the event to the normal rivalry among athletes and the impact of the weather.
In the women's category, Edna Lima, the sole representative from the Emicela Team Cabo Verde, competed in the 17km race. She initially kept pace with the eventual winner, Paula Gomes of Portugal, but lost ground as the race progressed. Lima finished fourth with a time of 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 5 seconds. Despite her disappointment at missing the podium, Lima acknowledged the challenging nature of the course.
The Emicela Team Cabo Verde had a significant presence at the event, with multiple athletes competing across various distances. The team was represented by Milly Brito in the 50km race, Nelson Correia, Kleiton Delgado, and Manuel Miranda in the 31km race, and Edna Lima, Itelvina Reis, Bruce Santos, and Samuel Teixeira in the 17km race. Itelvina Reis, a student of Physical Education and Sports, made her international debut at the event.
The 15th edition of the Grande Trail Serra d'Arga took place from October 2 to 4 in the Serra d'Arga region of Portugal. The event drew hundreds of athletes from 28 nationalities, who participated in six competitive distances: 100km, 50km, 31km, 17km, 15km, and a 12km walk. The event was organized by Carlos Sá Nature Events, with collaboration from local authorities.
The Grande Trail Serra d'Arga has established itself as a prominent trail running event in Portugal. The event's organizers, Carlos Sá Nature Events, worked in conjunction with the municipalities of Caminha and Viana do Castelo, as well as local juntas de freguesia, to ensure a successful event. The Grande Trail Serra d'Arga continues to attract athletes from around the world to compete in its challenging and scenic courses.
Key points
- Nelson Correia of Cabo Verde's Emicela Team wins 17km Grande Trail Serra d'Arga in Portugal with a time of 1 hour, 35 minutes, and 7 seconds.
- The Emicela Team Cabo Verde had a strong showing in the event, with multiple athletes competing across various distances.
- The 15th edition of the Grande Trail Serra d'Arga drew hundreds of athletes from 28 nationalities to compete in six competitive distances.
