Mexico City, MexicoTwotime Central American and Caribbean Games champion Juan Luis Barrios and Erica Guevara won the 12th San Silvestre 10km race along the Paseo de la Reforma in the Mexican capital on December 31.
Barrios, 23, ran unchallenged after the third kilometer and crossed the finished line in 29:55, ahead of Ismael Andrade (30:06) and 2003 10,000m Pan American Games gold medallist Teodoro Vega (30:34).
The trio and fourth-place finisher José Acierno (30:52) shared the lead during the first third of the race.
“I put a good end to a successful year. I could not refuse the invitation to run San Silvestre and spend time with the running community in Mexico,” said the winner.
The two-time NACAC cross country champion will travel to Spain with other Mexican runners early this month to take part in cross country races.
“I have worked hard in 2006 and I don’t want to lose the rhythm. We want to do a good preparation for the Cross Country World Champs in Kenya,” he added.
Barrios, a 2002 World Junior Championships finalist at 1500m, improved his 3000m and 5000m personal bests in 2006 to 7:37.64 and 13:27.89, respectively.
He also targets the Pan American Games and the IAAF World Championships in Osaka as two main goals for 2007.
Erica Guevara was a clear winner in the women’s race as she completed the course in 35:30 minutes, followed by Patricia Retiz (36:29) and América Mateos (37:50).
“I felt comfortable in a race where the cold temperatures were a predominating factor. I managed to win and end the year on a high note,” commented 30-year old Guevara.
The San Silvestre race paid tribute to two-time Olympian Benjamin Paredes for his contribution to Mexican athletics.
“All efforts I made during 30 years of running are recognized. I am not longer that competitive to be in major Games or the World Champs, but I will continue running because I love this atmosphere and I am currently leading the training of a group of talented long distance runners,” affirmed the former cyclist.
Paredes claimed the silver medal at the 1992 and 1993 World Duathlon Championships, before becoming a full time runner. He won marathon title at the 1993 Central American and Caribbean Games in Ponce and the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata.
He was also second in the 1995 New York Marathon and finished eighth at the 1996 Olympic Marathon in Atlanta. The 1.62m tall athlete has a Marathon best of 2:10:40 from his second place finish in Rotterdam 1994.
The 44-year-old was runner-up (32:00) to 1988 Chicago marathon winner Alejandro Salvador (31:51) at the 2006 San Silvestre in Mexico City.
Martín Pitayo, the 1990 Chicago marathon champion, was third in 32:22.
Full results can be found at http://www.avilasport.com.mx or www.asdeporte.com
Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF
