Pablo Olmedo and Maria Elena Valencia claimed the national titles and gave Mexico a home win at the 19th International LALA Marathon in Torreon, in the northern state of Coahuila, Mexico, on Sunday (4). Both met the standards for the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics Osaka.
MEN
Olmedo, 31, improved his personal best to 2:11:34 hours to prevent Kenyans from another win on Mexican soil.
The two-time 2002 CAC Games champion made his move after the 35km mark and only Hillary Kimaiyo of Kenya could respond. Both ran stride for stride until the last kilometre, when the Mexican prevailed with his faster finish.
Olmedo failed to break the course record, set by national record holde Andres Espinosa, who ran 2:10:57 in 2001.
Kimaiyo (2:11.46) and 2002 and 2003 winner Francisco Bautista (2:11.55) completed the top spots in a race that saw the first 10 men finish the 42.195km run under two hours and 17 minutes.
Olmedo also improved from his previous best of 2:11:59 from fifth in Otsu 2006.
WOMEN
In the women’s race, 2006 CAC Games champion Maria Elena Valencia ran unchallenged after the 15km mark and went on to renew her title successfully, in a time of 2:31:16.
Valencia ran close to her personal best of 2:30:53 from her Monterrey win last December and failed to become the seventh Mexican to break the 2:30-hour mark.
Jessica Rodríguez (2:35:13) and Angélica Sánchez (2:35:48) were distant second and third, respectively, to complete a home sweep.
For the first time ever in a Mexican marathon, the top 10 women went under 2:40 hours.
Pre-favourite and former national marathon record holder Adriana Fernández dropped out after 30km.
Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF
Top results from LALA in Torreon:
Men:
1. Pablo Olmedo Mexico 2:11:34 PB
2. Hillary Kimaiyo Kenya 2:11:46
3. Francisco Bautista Mexico 2:11:55
4. Christopher Toroitich Kenya 2:12:51
5. Procopio Franco Mexico 2:13:00
6. Gualberto Vargas Mexico 2:13:17
7. George Okworo Kenya 2:14:14
8. Rito Regules Mexico 2:14:50
9. Arturo Malaquías Mexico 2:14:50
10. Jesús Capula Mexico 2:16:43
Women
1. María Elena Valencia Mexico 2:31:16
2. Jessica Rodríguez Mexico 2:35:13
3. Angélica Sánchez Mexico 2:35:48
4. Patricia Rétiz Mexico 2:36:14
5. Paula Apolunio Mexico 2:36:34
6. Judith Ramírez Mexico 2:36:35
7. Mary Akor USA 2:37:14
8. Albina Gallyamova Russia 2:37:25
9. Ariana Quino Mexico 2:39:17
10. Lucy Njeri Kenya 2:39:38
