Esmeraldas fired his best sprinter recalling his perseverance and example

“Honor and glory in the grave of a great one. You are and will always and always be Fedesmeraldas ”. The phrase was on a banner with a photo of Álex Quiñónez Martínez. It was placed at the entrance gate to the field of the Folke Anderson stadium in Esmeraldas.

In that place the burning chapel was installed on Sunday afternoon to say goodbye to the sprinter, who was murdered on Friday night in the northwest of Guayaquil. The urban singer Christopher Arcalla Ramírez was shot with him. A street of honor was formed to receive the remains of the athlete.

He was transferred to the stadium after his family watched over him, in the midst of deep pain, in the Las Guacharacas sector. Ana Quiñónez, mother of the athlete, thanked those present for their solidarity and attendance at the funeral services. Before, she had asked for justice for her son, but she also criticized that financial aid and sponsorships had been taken away from him.

The coffin arrived at midnight on Saturday from Guayaquil. He was received at the San Mateo control by Olympic medalist Jefferson Pérez; Governor Tania Obando and Pablo Velasco, commander of the Subzone 8 National Police. From there he was escorted to his mother’s house.

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Loud applause was heard as the mortuary box was lowered into the home. Neighbors who know his mother and who followed Álex’s career gathered in the street to say goodbye to him.

Lucrecia Saltos, who has a daughter who was Álex’s study partner, remembered him with nostalgia for the joys that his competitions generated in the country. Teachers who had him as a student were also moved by his tragic end, far away from the land that saw him born 32 years ago.

Others remembered him as a young man with a good prospect for sports, a persevering boy, as a son who tried to support his mother, Ana Quiñónez.

A canvas placed in the stadium read: “You were and will be an example for present and future generations in sport, we will remember you forever.”

Delegations of athletes from various disciplines and friends came to the stadium to say goodbye to the runner. Officials and employees of the Esmeraldas Sports Federation were in charge of locating the tent and amplification in a site of the soccer field.

The Minister of Sports, Sebastián Palacios; Celso Cortez, of the Ecuadorian Athletics; and Edwin Preciado, president of Fedesmeraldas.

The priest Silvino Mina, Vicar General, led a prayer in the burning chapel.

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The Ministry of Sports with the areas of Guayas and the north were in charge of the mortuary expenses, administrative procedures and transfer of the mortal remains.

In addition, with ECU911, the Ministry of Health and Police organized care for their families and security during the funeral ceremonies, said Nicole Estupiñán, coordinator of Zone 1 of Sports.

Grecia Cheme, a former athletic partner, remembered with feelings when they trained together with Alex.

Miris Quiñónez, and Juan Quiñónez, relatives of the athlete, asked the COE to apologize for not allowing Alex to participate in 2020. In addition, they demanded that his rights be restored and that justice be done for his rights. However, the COE did not disqualify the athlete. He was suspended for one year by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for not being reachable three times within the twelve-month period for doping controls.

Camera captured two men in the crime against sprinter Álex Quiñónez and singer Christopher Arcalla

Jefferson Quintero, Álex’s personal friend, recalled that he recently spoke with him to train in Quito. “We talked on the phone and I listened to him a bit unmotivated. My aspiration was for him to participate in the 2022 Olympics, “he said.

The body of the athlete was buried next to the grave of the hero Luis Vargas Torres, in the municipal cemetery of Esmeraldas. (I)