Kenyans have dominated the Guadalajara men’s marathon in recent years, but it was a runner from another African country who took top honors in Sunday’s 33rd edition of the event.
Ethiopia’s Musa Babo Ido romped home in a time of two hours, 19 minute and 22 seconds, just under nine minutes slower than his personal best for a marathon. His breakaway came at kilometer 28 and he was in cruise control from them on. His closest rivals, David Kiptoo and Joseph Nyokwoyo of Kenya, finished five minutes behind the winner.
Juan Carlos Carera was the top-placed Mexican runner, finishing in a respectable fourth place, only a minute behind Nyokwoyo.
In the women’s race, Kenya’s Carolina Jebiwot made easy work of a course that passed along some of the city’s most prominent avenues, winning in a time of 2:41:57. Second and third were Mexican runners, Adriana Zúñiga and Isabel Guadalupe Oropeza, with times of 2:48:37 and 2:49:09 respectively.
A total of 3,781 runners took part as individuals in the 42-kilometer race, while a further 3,500 participated in 875 teams in the relay event.