With an impeccable organization that left no loose ends, with more than 4,000 people running through the streets of Concordia, and with two great Argentine athletes, Julián Molina and Federico Bruno, who provided a vibrant spectacle throughout the entire race, the 40th "Juan Diego López" International Marathon of Kings was a great celebration that electrified the entire city. There was no lack of any ingredient for the day experienced this Saturday to be inscribed in the memory of everyone: those who ran it, those who cheered on the athletes as they passed, and those who celebrated with the various prizes, whether on the podiums or through the raffle of the 0km car.
Julián Molina, a native of Paraná who currently lives in Rosario, dethroned the local Federico Bruno and with a time of 29 minutes 31 seconds crossed the finish line and was crowned the new King of Kings. Molina comes from winning the 21 km Buenos Aires Half Marathon, and although all eyes were on the Olympian Bruno, who was going for his sixth consecutive victory, the experts knew that it would be a very difficult race for both. They led the entire race in a one-two finish that had them as the undisputed protagonists and accelerated the heartbeats of everyone following the broadcast on the radio or social media. With 29 minutes 56 seconds, Bruno placed in second position in this edition of the competition.
Third was another native of Concordia, who came from winning the San Silvestre in Buenos Aires and is training for the Seville Marathon in February, which could give him the ticket to the Pan American Games in the middle of the year. Martín Mendez set a time of 30 minutes 29 seconds. The top 5 podium is completed by Juan Manuel Benítez from Gualeguaychú, in 31'07'', and Cristian Meneguzzi, from Rosario, in 32'03''.
The first ten men to reach the finish line in the general category include several natives of Concordia on their list, which once again confirms the high level of athletics in the city. Sixth was Enrique Costa, in 32'05''; seventh Ignacio Valin in 32'08''; eighth Rodrigo Zorrilla, from the town of Tres Isletas, in 32'29'', and closing the top 10, the native of Concordia Juan Ignacio Segovia, in 32'49''.
Rosa Godoy: undisputed queen
Eighth time that Rosa Godoy from Córdoba takes the top crown. The athlete from the city of Carlos Paz, marking 34'20'', confirmed that she is one of the best in the country and repeated her triumph. The best native of Concordia was Nancy Gallo, who arrived in fifth position, with a time of 37'43''.
The women's podium was completed by María Ovejero, from Banda Río Salí, with a time of 34'40'' in second position; third was Patricia Ponce, from Esperanza, with a time of 37'27''; and fourth was Karina Fuentealba, from CABA, with a time of 37'37''. The women's top ten is completed with: Ivanna Herrera Loto, from La Banda, in sixth position marking 39'32''; Karen Ayala, from Virrey del Pino, in seventh position, marking 39'38''; Malvina Soledad Quinones, from Colón, in eighth place with a time of 39'53''; Andrea Lazzarini, from Santa Fe, with 39'57'', finishing ninth; and in tenth position, María del Pilar Ríos, from Concepción del Uruguay, with a time of 40'30''.
The first athlete to cross the finish line was the native of Concordia Daniel Ortíz, in a wheelchair, setting a time of 26'57'' and once again obtaining the victory.
"A very fast race"
The decision for it to take place at 8:00 PM was more than correct. The weather helped, and all conditions were the best for a unique celebration to be experienced. "Very happy to have been able to make history, I wanted to participate in the 40th edition of the Marathon of Kings and I was able to do it," said Julián Molina after the competition. "It was a very fast race from the first second, Federico Bruno and Martín Mendez went out to run with everything," said the new champion of the Marathon. "The race was very tough from kilometer 5 onwards, I had the feeling that I could lose it at any moment," he added.
"From the first organization meetings, we enjoyed this 40th edition of the Marathon of Kings very much," pointed out the mayor Enrique Cresto during the final press conference. "Many institutions and organizations came to collaborate because all of Concordia wanted to be part of this celebration, which it was," said the municipal leader. Cresto highlighted "the support of Governor Gustavo Bordet so that we could carry out this sporting event, of the CFI, of the Province's Health area, who worked incessantly so that everything would be a success. Together with the team from the Sports Secretariat, the Marathon Entity, and the different areas of the municipality. The race is ending, the last athletes are arriving at the finish line, and we already see the Urban Hygiene Guard team working on the circuit cleaning the city, and that is important," valued the municipal president.
The Sports Secretary Marcelo Cresto, Marcelo Flores, general coordinator of the race, the vice-mayor and president of the Deliberative Council Armando Gay, together with the head of the local government, received the athletes at the finish line and waited for each of the participants during the long hour and a half that the race lasted. "A special mention for our residents, seeing how the people poured into the streets to cheer for everyone is what makes this competition unique," indicated Marcelo Flores. "The strength and heart that all the people of Concordia put into this Marathon, each one from their place, is unique," he reiterated.
For his part, the head of the municipality's sports portfolio, Marcelo Cresto, did not hesitate to thank "the commitment of the entire team that in every post, in every place, worked with great responsibility so that everything would turn out perfect." There was a "record of participants among the three distances," said Marcelo Cresto, recalling that this time a special 3km distance was added, at the request of many residents of Concordia who wanted to be part of the race and experience it from the inside.
Juan Diego López, the creator of the race who started this dream 40 years ago, experienced the race from Plaza España, where today is the start of the 5km and which four decades ago was the scene of the original start. There, on Alvear street near Bernardo de Irigoyen, Juan enjoyed the competition watching the athletes pass by and surely recalling in his head different snapshots of these forty editions that account for the enormous growth that the competition had.
Among those present who accompanied the race were also provincial deputy Alejandro Bahler and the Province's Minister of Planning Luis Benedetto, among other authorities, legislators, and officials. Among those who ran it, out of the more than 4,000 registered, it is worth highlighting the presence of soccer player Gustavo Bou, who did not want to miss the race, and María Inés Rodriguez, the woman who participated the most times, since the mid-80s when women were allowed to participate for the first time and who this Saturday also went out to run it, receiving special recognition.
"It's a unique race," said the winner of the car
Pedro Ortíz, from San Antonio de Areco, was the lucky participant who returns home in a new 0km car. After several attempts, in which numbers of people who were no longer present at the place were drawn, Pedro, who came with his wife, children, and friends, turned out to be the winner of the car that was raffled among the participants. The man said that he was invited by his friends, who have already come in previous editions. "I have been running since I was 14 years old, but it is the first time I have come to run here. I regret not having come before, because it is a very nice race, the whole distance is experienced in a unique way. They had told me but I couldn't believe it," said the winner of the car.
"We all came with the expectations of taking something, a prize, a trophy, but we never thought about the car," said one of his friends, who is coming to run in Concordia for the fourth time. "I brought him, now he is going back by car," he joked. Pedro, together with his wife, could not get over the astonishment. After experiencing an athletic event unique in the whole country crowned with a very special prize, happiness overflowed their faces.