Kenyans shine again at the fourth Saltillo - La Moderna Marathon, held on Sunday

For the fourth consecutive year, the capital of Coahuila hosted the Saltillo - La Moderna Marathon , which had the participation of 1,097 athletes, 10 percent of whom were foreigners; 60 percent, nationals, and the remaining 30 percent, locals.

Although no record was broken on this occasion, the overall winners were led by Kenyan Alfred Kipserem Cherop , who, with a time of 2 hours, 25 minutes and 24 seconds, took first place, which was 40 seconds away from breaking the current record.

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Stephen Ndege followed on the podium; in third place, Francisco Alberto Pachicano Pérez ; in fourth, Gerardo Emmanuel Armendáriz González ; and, in fifth place, Paul Longole .

In the women's category, the first place went to Elizabet Yeveth ; the second to Ruth Quimotai ; in third place was Mónica Quezares ; fourth place, Beatriz Olivia de la Rosa Vélez ; and in fifth place was Dulce Gabriela Orozco Chávez from Saltillo.

A prize purse exceeding 250,000 pesos was awarded, among other prizes, distributed among the 10 overall winners – five men and five women – to the Coahuila participants and groups of runners, grouped according to their ages.

The Saltillo - La Moderna Marathon , which covers 42,195 meters, remains the sixth largest race of its kind in the country, and places Coahuila as the second state with two marathons, after Sinaloa .

The race is organized by the "Run and Add" Association, in conjunction with the state and municipal governments, while the company ChronoSport operates and coordinates its execution, reported José Francisco Cossío Duarte , director of said firm.

The marathon's general director—certified by the Mexican Federation of Athletics Associations (FMAA) and the International Association of Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) —indicated that, in addition to La Moderna , dozens of institutions and organizations collaborate in this sporting event, including schools, restaurants, hotels, and sports clubs.

In announcing that the number of participating athletes had decreased slightly compared to the previous three races, he stated that "the organizing committee will continue striving to ensure that more people learn about and join this sporting event."

He reported that, thanks also to the cheers that encouraged the competitors and the more than 60 supply and animation points installed along the circuit, approximately 90% of the competitors were able to reach the finish line.

Nationally, the average percentage of athletes who complete the course is 85 percent, while in New York the figure is 98 to 99 percent, “due to the numerous cheering sections they have.”

Indeed, “the participation of the cheering sections is a key factor in helping marathon runners reach the finish line, so the more cheering sections there are, the more finishers we will have. This is called the ‘audience effect,’” explained Cossío Duarte .

A total of 60 cheerleading squads, each with approximately 10 members, were stationed along the route, along with 12 ambulances, 150 doctors and nurses, 1,500 preventive police officers, 80 physiotherapists, 45 supply groups, and 500 staff members.

THEY FEAR THE MARATHON

“Pepe” Cossío estimated that it has not been possible to raise the number of runners beyond the 1,150 who competed in the first edition, the highest number recorded so far.

This is because athletes “are afraid of the local marathon,” perhaps because it is “the most difficult” in the country, given that it has countless hills that, in addition, must be run at an altitude that ranges between 1,485 and 1,678 meters, he explained.

This, unlike other competitions, such as the 21K Coahuila , where normally 4,500 people from Saltillo are involved, to which he asked: "Where are those runners to come and run the marathon?"

“There are definitely a lot of taboos and mental barriers surrounding marathons; participants only want to run up to 21 kilometers, which makes them half-marathoners. Do they want to be full-fledged marathoners, real marathoners? Then they should come and run with us,” he said.

Furthermore, he considered that this race does not belong to a committee or the government; it is an event that has already become the city's, which should continue to support it, "whether by running and going out to cheer or by supplying the runners," the interviewee indicated.

Those present at the awards ceremony were: Javier Díaz González , mayor of Saltillo ; Francisco Hernández , director of Pastas La Moderna , Ramos Arizpe plant; Édgar Puente , director of the Municipal Sports Institute ; and Mario Domínguez , municipal deputy director of Tourism .

Also present were the members of the organizing committee: Javier Villaseñor , financial and legal director; Gustavo Lara , director of public relations and sponsors; Pepe Cossío , general and operational director; and Fabián Núñez , promotional and social media director.