News07 Oct 2009


Buenos Aires hosts Area marathon championships

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Brazilian Sirlene Souza de Pinho (© Luis Vinker)

Argentina has a rich history in the marathon, something which will be celebrated this weekend when the Buenos Aires International Marathon hosts the South American Marathon Championships on Sunday 11 October.

Remember the two Argentinean gold medals in the Olympics, a young Juan Carlos Zabala called "Ñandu Criollo" at Los Angeles 1932 and Delfo Cabrera, sixteen years later in an epic final at Wembley stadium with another two countrymen Armando Sensini and Eusebio Guiñez in the top 10. 

Then in Helsinki 1952, when Zatopek completed his memorable "triple gold (5000, 10,000 and Marathon), the silver at the marathon was taken by Argentinean Reinaldo Gorno, while defending champion Cabrera, running his personal best, finished 6th.

And Osvaldo Suarez, one of the greatest ever runners produced by Argentina, with six gold medals in track events at Pan Am Games, finished sixth behind Abebe Bikila in the 1960 Rome Marathon (1960), in what was then a South American record of 2:21:27.

But times have changed. Argentina has lost connection with this great heritage with Antonio Silio the only truly international runner recently thanks to a 2:09:55 PB for the marathon (Hamburg 1995) and a silver medal in the inaugural World Half marathon Championships in 1992.

Now, the country is working to recover its tradition. The Buenos Aires International Marathon which started in 1984 will have its biggest field next Sunday (11 Oct), 6000 runners (the previous record was 3500, last year) and another 6000 running the half marathon.

The South America Athletics Confederation (CONSUDATLE - Confederación Sudamericana de Atletismo) has designated the 2009 Buenos Aires International Marathon as its Area championship for the marathon.

It’s a time of celebration as Argentina is celebrates 90 years of it's athletics federation, and next may will celebrate 100 years since of the first marathon took place in the country, a race won by Dorando Pietri.

This Sunday Brazilian Sirlene Souza de Pinho, the bronze medallist at the last Pan AM Games will be the main contender in women’s field, with Jacqueline Jerotich Chebor, from Kenya.

Mohamed Hsenduki (Tan) and David Kiptanui (Ken) will be the stars of the men’s section along with two former Olympians Herman Oscar Cortinez (Arg, 2000) and Roberto Echeverria (Chi, 2008, also South American cross country champion), while Marco Antonio Pereira, who recently won the Rio International Marathon, will be the leader of Brazilian team in the men’s elite section.

The Government of Buenos Aires city is supporting the race that will start near River Plate stadium, with runners enjoying the green section of the city, before running in the old town and the typical neighbours in which Tango was first expressed.

Luis Vinker for the IAAF

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