Cuba
Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...
n
long-distance runner
Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely Aerobic exercise, aerobic in nature and requires stamina as well as mental strength.
Within endurance ru ...
who specialises in the
marathon
The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of kilometres ( 26 mi 385 yd), usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There ...
. He was the gold medallist at the
2015 Pan American Games
The 2015 Pan American Games (), officially the XVII Pan American Games () and commonly known as the Toronto 2015 Pan-Am Games (Toronto 2015), were a major international multi-sport event celebrated in the tradition of the Pan American Games, ...
Havana
Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.Richer Pérez: La gloria inédita al alcance de 2:17:04 horas . '' Granma''. Retrieved on 2015-07-27. Pérez first established himself nationally at the 2007
Barrientos Memorial
The Barrientos Memorial () is an annual track and field meeting in Havana, Cuba each May. The event was first held in 1946, in recognition of José Barrientos (a former Cuban Olympic sprinter), who died in an aviation accident the previous year. ...
meet in Havana, winning the
10,000 metres
The 10,000 metres or the 10,000-metre run is a common long-distance track running event. The event is part of the athletics programme at the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships, and is common at championship-level events. The ...
. At the 2011 meet he set new personal bests when he won the 10,000 m in a time of 29:56.32 minutes and was runner-up in the
5000 metres
The 5000 metres or 5000-metre run is a common long-distance running event in track and field, approximately equivalent to or . It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics, run over laps of a sta ...
, behind Mexico's Sergio Pedraza. Later that year he won the
half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of —half the distance of a marathon. It is common for a half marathon event to be held concurrently with a marathon or a 5K race, using almost the same course with a late start, an early finish, or shortcu ...
section of the
Marabana
image:marabana.jpg, 150px, Runners passing by 26th avenue / Marabana 2006
Marabana is the name of the most popular marathon in Cuba. Since 1987 the Marabana has been held in Havana, Cuba, during the month of November (third Sunday of November). It ...
Association of Road Racing Statisticians
The Association of Road Racing Statisticians is an independent, non-profit organization that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics regarding road running races. The primary purpose of the ARRS is to maintain a valid list of world road record ...
. Retrieved on 2015-07-27.
He competed only domestically over the next two years, continuing with two further wins at the Marabana Half Marathon and back-to-back titles in the Cuban Independence Anniversary Half Marathon. He also won a track title over 10,000 m at the Copa de Cuba in 2012. He repeated that feat in 2014 and also won a distance double at the Barrientos Memorial. After a fourth straight win at the Marabana Half marathon he was chosen to represent Cuba internationally for the first time at the
. There he was the gold medallist in the marathon with a personal best time of 2:19:13 hours. This made him the first Cuban to win a marathon at that competition, which was first held in 1938.
At the start of the 2015 season, he upheld his place as the country's top distance runner with a track double at the Copa de Cuba and a 10,000 m win at the Barrientos Memorial. He surprised on his second international performance at the
2015 Pan American Games
The 2015 Pan American Games (), officially the XVII Pan American Games () and commonly known as the Toronto 2015 Pan-Am Games (Toronto 2015), were a major international multi-sport event celebrated in the tradition of the Pan American Games, ...
: entering only his third marathon, he defeated the more favoured
Raúl Pacheco
Raúl Manuel Pacheco Mendoza (born 26 April 1979) is a Peruvian long-distance running, long-distance runner. He was born in Santa Fe de Jauja. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon ...
(a Peruvian Olympian) to maintain his undefeated streak at the distance. His finishing time of 2:17:04 hours was a personal best and also reached his objective of running a qualifying time for the
2015 World Championships in Athletics
The 2015 IAAF World Championships ( zh, 第十五届世界田径锦标赛), the fifteenth edition of the IAAF World Championships, were held from 22 to 30 August at the National Stadium in Beijing, China. Forty-three nations won medals, 144 of ...
5000 metres
The 5000 metres or 5000-metre run is a common long-distance running event in track and field, approximately equivalent to or . It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics, run over laps of a sta ...
– 14:25.33 min (2011)
*
10,000 metres
The 10,000 metres or the 10,000-metre run is a common long-distance track running event. The event is part of the athletics programme at the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships, and is common at championship-level events. The ...
– 29:56.32 min (2011)
*
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of —half the distance of a marathon. It is common for a half marathon event to be held concurrently with a marathon or a 5K race, using almost the same course with a late start, an early finish, or shortcu ...
– 1:05:21 (2013)
*
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of kilometres ( 26 mi 385 yd), usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There ...