Doñana Trail Marathon 2026: results and decisive comebacks

Ángel Fernández Franco and María Marín Clavijo won the 2026 Doñana Trail Marathon, held on Saturday 7 November between Seville and El Rocío. Fernández Franco won in 4:48:28 over the 68-kilometre course.

The 14th edition drew 800 participants, a record for the event, which sold out all available places. Both individual winners came from behind after their rivals had led for much of the race.

Two comebacks decide the race

Jesús Calle Arroyo took the lead in the early kilometres and opened a gap over his pursuers. He remained at the front for much of the race until Ángel Fernández Franco and Antonio Martín Romero caught and passed him at kilometre 63.

The two runners tackled the final section together and reached El Rocío in the same time. Fernández Franco took the win, with Martín Romero second. The rest of the men’s podium was:

2. Antonio Martín Romero: 4:48:28.
3. Jesús Calle Arroyo: 5:01:39.

In the women’s race, Yetsabeth Martínez led for a long stretch. María Marín Clavijo gradually closed the gap before catching her and completing her comeback ahead of the finish. The remaining places on the women’s podium went to:

2. Yetsabeth Martínez.
3. Jennifer Aparicio Sánchez.

From Seville to El Rocío along Aljarafe’s trails

The race started at 8:00 in Seville. From there, the route headed towards El Rocío along trails through Aljarafe and the Doñana area. Despite the event’s name, the length of the point-to-point course makes it an ultradistance race.

Runners passed through San Juan de Aznalfarache, Tomares, Bormujos, Bollullos de la Mitación, Aznalcázar, Villamanrique de la Condesa and Hinojos. The final kilometres crossed sandy terrain before the finish beside the chapel of El Rocío, in the Huelva municipality of Almonte.

The morning began cool and bright, with temperatures rising gradually during the day. Organisers provided five aid stations and route markings to guide runners through the municipalities.

Volunteers and cycling clubs from Espartinas, Villamanrique de la Condesa, Aznalcázar and Hinojos helped mark and monitor the route. Waste collection points were also provided to reduce the impact of the event.

Teams, pairs and a regional championship in 2027

CD Jaén Trail won the men’s team competition. Francisco Javier Torres Damas, Serafín Moreno Manzano, José Antonio Ramiro Ramírez and Salvador Serrano Soler completed the course together in 6:55:28.

In the Equality category, for pairs made up of a man and a woman who complete the entire route together, Maribel Ruiz Pacheco and Pedro Díaz Villegas took victory. They crossed the finish line holding hands in 8:08:20.

At the end of the event, organisers announced that the race will host the Andalusian Ultra Trail Championship in 2027. The event was supported by Seville’s Municipal Sports Institute and the councils of the municipalities along the route, as well as sponsoring organisations.