2023-08-27 17:12:29
Mexico City. The Bolivian Héctor Garibay was not only crowned with overwhelming dominance in the Mexico City Marathon, he also set a competition record and relegated the Kenyans, Leonard Langat and Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo, to second and third place. In the women’s branch, the Kenyan army, led by Celestine Chepchirchir, swept the podium and achieved 1-2-3.
Garibay Flores, 35, stopped the time in 2 hours, 8 minutes and 23 seconds, and he did it with a composure as if the 42,195 kilometers had not weighed on him. His superiority was so remarkable that his closest pursuer crossed the finish line three minutes later.
His record also meant the best of all time on the capital route. He broke the mark held by Kenyan Titus Ekiru with 2:10:38.
Langat, with a time of 2:11:16, and Kiprop Kiptoo, with a time of 2:11:15, completed the podium.
Tirzo Efraín Reséndez (2:19:53) and Isabel Guadalupe Oropeza (2:41:13) were the first Mexicans to finish the test. Both finished in seventh position in their respective categories.
The Mexicans Darío Castro and Eloy Sánchez, first and second place in the edition two years ago, might not keep up with the peloton headed by a legion of eight African athletes. In this leading group, the only Latin American who got into the fight was the Bolivian Héctor Garibay.
Never intimidated by the strength of the Kenyans, the South American quickened his pace following kilometer 20 and pulled away from his rivals to take the lead.
In the women’s division, the Kenyan army won 1,2, 3, led by Celestine Chepchirchir, in the XL Marathon in Mexico City, on August 27, 2023. Photo Víctor Camacho.
However, Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo, winner of last year’s marathon, quickened his stride and caught up with Garibay.
What Kiprop did not count is that the Bolivian returned to the charge at kilometer 24 and left the Kenyan far behind. This time Garibay, with an unbridled rhythm, did not give up the lead and headed alone to the final stretch of the route
Garibay, who already has his ticket to the Olympic Games, did not slow down, and with an impeccable physical condition, the battle for gold turned into a fight once morest himself; no one else was going to stop him.
At the end of the tour, Leonard Langat passed Kiprop Kiptoo, who a year following his triumph had to settle for the bronze medal.
Kenyans Celestine Chepchirchir and Maurine Chepkemoi took the lead in the women’s category and no opponent came close.
The duel for first place, from the middle of the course, was predicted to be between compatriots. Neither one nor the other took off. They passed kilometer 35 together and the fight became fierce. Chepchirchir, however, used his last reserve of fuel in the last metres. It was there that she took a slight advantage that helped her to establish herself as the new queen of the category.
Chepchirchir finished with a mark of 2 hours, 27 minutes and 17 seconds. Chepkemoi, meanwhile, finished with 2:27:37, while Judith Jerubet did it with 2:30:51
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