More than 25,000 runners competed successfully despite uncertainty over the coronavirus outbreak
About 27,000 athletes from the 50 states of the country and many who represented 78 countries, including Latin America, challenged their physical and mental strength this Sunday to compete in the 35th Annual Los Angeles Marathon.
This, coupled with the fact that some had to overcome the fear of the outbreak of coronavirus, which in California has already thrown 114 positive cases and one death.
"I ran because the exercise is good for my health," said José Aguirre Jr., a 23-year-old, a forensic science student at Pacific College in Long Beach. "I was not worried about the coronavirus," he said.
José, who made a time of 4 hours and 25 minutes to travel the 26.2 miles was received as a hero by his parents, at the table where they – as volunteers of the event – handed out the medals to the participants.
“At mile 20 I couldn't stand it anymore, I wanted to stop but other colleagues encouraged me to continue,” said the young construction worker and son of Mexican parents.
"My ch … my legs hurt but I decided not to think about that, but to finish the race."
Similarly, Guatemalans Henry Melgar, 48 years old from Jutiapa and Antonio Pérez, 21 years old from Totonicapán, were proud to have crossed the final goal at the Santa Monica Pier.
"For several months I was trained twice a week," said Henry, who did a time of 4:20 hours; seven minutes less than his young compatriot.
"This is always the case, the big ones put the sample to the youngest," joked Henry, while Antonio proudly wrapped himself in the flag of his country.
The desire to succeed prevail
From the dawn of this Sunday, the participants waited for the starting gun at Dodger Stadium until they completed the course that ended in front of the sea.
In order to mitigate any concerns about the coronavirus, the organizers of the competition postponed the participation of people living in countries where the US Department of State issued a "do not travel" notice.
In fact, at least about 60 competitors from China did not participate in the angel marathon. Other athletes whose participation was postponed were from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Italy, South Korea and Iran.
Murphy Reinschreiber, director of operations for the McCourt Foundation, which organizes the marathon, said the postponements will be honored for next year's race.
"We follow the guidelines of local, state and federal authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Emergency Management to implement any necessary plan and protocols for the marathon … The safety of the runners will always be ours top priority, ”Reinscheiber explained.
According to a global count by the John Hopkins University of Massachusetts, as of Saturday in the US 318 cases of the virus had been diagnosed. They also reported 105,561 cases worldwide; 3,555 deaths and that 58,354 people had recovered.
“I was very scared of the coronavirus after participation cancellations began to occur,” said Cynthia Rodríguez, a Mexican-American housewife who lives in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, in Windsor Hills.
“It disappoints me because unlike many other places, the city of Los Angeles and the organizers decided to go ahead with the marathon. They were not responsible and almost forced us to run. They told us that if we canceled, they would not return our registration money. ”
Internationally, the Paris half marathon was canceled on Saturday when the cases of coronaviruses detected in Europe increased.
In addition, the Seoul marathon, originally scheduled for late March, was also postponed indefinitely. In that Asian nation, 7,041 infected people have been detected.
"We wanted to provide a unique experience to runners and competitors," Dan Cruz, spokesman for the marathon, told La Opinión. "To have their best experience, people decided to go to Disneyland, the Lakers game or the marathon."
An Ethiopian defeats two Kenyans
Among the elite competitors, the Ethiopian Bayelign Teshager, in the male fame and the Kenyan Margaret Muriuki were proclaimed winners of the angel marathon, which was run despite the fears of COVID-19.
Teshager, who lives in Boston, won the test in a time of 2:08:27 hours. It is the third time that, since 1999, a runner who is not originally from Kenya wins the competition.
"At kilometer 35 I knew I could win the race," said the 20-year-old athlete, who finished in the twelfth position in the under-20 race at the Cross Country World Championship of the International Federation of Amateur Athletics (IAAF) 2017.
"This will be one of the days I will remember for the rest of my life."
John Langat (2:08:43) and Wilson Kwan Chebet (2:09:16), both from Kenya, were awarded second and third place, respectively.
In the women's branch Margaret Muriuki made a time of 2:29:27. She took the race from end to end, ahead of Ethiopian Almaz Negede (2:32:28) and her Kenyan compatriot, Jane Kibll (2:36:04).
Muriuki told La Opinión that a week before the race he came to think about canceling his participation, due to reports of the coronavirus in California.
"My husband is my coach and together we decided to move on," said the gazelle, also a 2019 winner of the Honolulu marathon.
"I come from being a 1,500 meter runner where you have to stay ahead to avoid being pushed … Maybe I had that mentality to win the marathon."
African women have won nine of the last 11 races in Los Angeles. Only runners of the former Soviet Union won twice.
Winners will receive $ 23,000 each, runners-up $ 12,000 and third-place finalists $ 7,000.
While the best American men and women will each receive a $ 2,000 bonus.
The wheelchair race was won by the Spanish Rafael Botello, and the Brazilian Vanessa Souza, in the women's category.
United in the final victory
The tactics that Costa Rican José Argenes Jiménez and his friend, the Spanish Rafael Botello, worked perfectly.
In the final mile to cross the finish line, they agreed, clashed their fists and headed for victory. The Barcelona player won the marathon for paraplegics and the tico was second.
"We have been participating for several years and I told him that together we were going to win," Botello told La Opinión.
Happy and smiling, José Argenes said that he ran in honor of his wife, Gabriela Montero, and their 21-year-old son Argenes, who plays soccer in his native Heredia.
"In 2001 I fell off the third floor of a building," he said.
"When Rafael Botello arrived in Costa Rica in 2013, a talk of his opened my mind and I began to dream of competing."
