São Silvestre: Kenyans maintain hegemony and win the race – 12/31/2023 – Sports

As expected, Kenyan athletes maintained their hegemony in the São Silvestre International Race held this Sunday (31) through the streets of the capital of São Paulo.

Among men, the podium was dominated by runners from the African country. Timothy Kiplagat Ronoh, 30, confirmed his favoritism and crossed the finish line in first place, with a time of 44 minutes and 52 seconds. The race record is 42 minutes and 59 seconds, set in 2019 by Kenyan Kibiwot Kandie.

Kiplagat’s best career results include second place in the Rotterdam marathon, in 2023, and first place in the Melbourne and Abu Dhabi marathons, in 2022.

Emmanuel Bor (45 minutes and 28 seconds) and Reuben Longosiwa (45 minutes and 44 seconds), also from Kenya, came second and third, respectively.

São Silvestre expects a total prize pool of approximately R$300,000. The champions receive around R$57,000 each.

Johnatas de Oliveira Cruz was the best Brazilian, finishing sixth, with a time of 46 minutes and 33 seconds. “Winning the race is not easy, but we are fighting for it, we will train more. 2024 promises”, said the Minas Gerais native from São Pedro dos Ferros in an interview with TV Gazeta after the race.

In the women’s category, fellow favorite Catherine Reline, 21, from Kenya, won for the second year in a row. Just like Kiplagat in the men’s race, Catherine managed to distance herself from the main competitors in the middle of the race and led comfortably until the end.

The runner completed the race with a time of 49 minutes and 54 seconds. The record is 48 minutes and 35 seconds, set in 2016 by Kenyan Jemima Sumgong. It was the tenth time that Kenyan athletes did the double at São Silvestre, winning both the men’s and women’s categories.

Also from Kenya, Sheila Chelangat came in second place, with a time of 51 minutes and 35 seconds. Wude Ayalew, from Ethiopia, with 51 minutes and 46 seconds, completed the podium.

A naturalized Brazilian Angolan, Felismina Cavela was Brazil’s best athlete in the race, also in sixth place, with a time of 55 minutes. Soon after, compatriot Kleidiane Barbosa arrived, with 55 minutes and 12 seconds.

“All along the route, there were people cheering for us, and that crowd certainly motivates us,” said Felismina after the race, holding a Brazilian and Angolan flag.

With the results this Sunday, the hegemony of African athletes in the traditional street race in São Paulo, especially in Kenya, continues, without Brazil being able to occupy the highest place on the podium for more than a decade.

It’s been 13 years since the last time a local runner reached the front, when Marílson Gomes dos Santos won for the third time (he also won in 2003 and 2005, being the most successful Brazilian in the race). In the female category, Lucélia Peres, in 2006, was the last runner in the country to win São Silvestre.

Since then, athletes from Africa, mainly Kenyans, have taken turns as champions. Runners from the African country lead the race in terms of achievements, with 35 victories, considering the international phase with foreigners, which began in 1945.

Among men, Kenyan Paul Tergat is the biggest winner, five-time champion of São Silvestre (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000). Among women, the record is held by the Portuguese Rosa Mota, with six consecutive triumphs between 1981 and 1986.

Brazil occupied the highest place on the podium on 16 occasions, 11 times in the men’s category and five in the women’s category.

Around 35 thousand competitors took part in the race and covered the 15 km route in 2023, passing through some of the main tourist attractions in São Paulo, such as the Pacaembu stadium, Avenidas Ipiranga and São João and Praça da República, in addition to the famous and the feared climb up Avenida Brigadeiro Luís Antônio.

The start of the race took place on Avenida Paulista, between Augusta and Frei Caneca streets, with the finish on the same avenue, in front of the Cásper Líbero Foundation building, organizer of the event.

Experienced Brazilian Paralympic athlete wins in the wheelchair category

In the wheelchair category, Brazilian triathlete Fernando Aranha, 45, was the champion of the 2023 edition of São Silvestre, with a time of 50 minutes and 12 seconds.

“I didn’t expect such a result, I’m returning to race in São Silvestre after ten years”, said Aranha. “My intention was just to participate, but I ended up putting in a good race”, added the experienced Brazilian Paralympic athlete.

He participated in the triathlon race at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, in 2016. At the time, the sport made its debut at a Paralympics. Aranha finished the race in seventh place. He had also competed at the Sochi Winter Games in 2014, in cross country skiing, when he came in 15th, being the first Brazilian to participate in both editions of the Paralympic Games.

Rogério Costa came second (54 minutes and 2 seconds) among wheelchair users, and Carlos Antônio Guedes do Nascimento, champion of the last edition, was third (55 minutes and 30 seconds). Around 30 wheelchair users participated in the race this year.

In addition to professional athletes, the São Paulo street race is marked by the lively presence of amateur runners dressed up as the most varied characters. Boxer, bride, Ayrton Senna, superheroes, Chapolin and rock stars are among the most common.