Sofía Luna and Ignacio Erario, two Argentine athletes, set times of 1h11m16s and 1h00m59s at the 2024 Buenos Aires Half Marathon. The event, with almost 31,500 entrants, also saw Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha break the world record with 56m51s.

Key results

  • Sofía Luna: 1h11m16s, 6 seconds ahead of Cordoba's Dahyana Juarez (1h11m22s). Luna, mother of Eusebio and partner of Santiago, trained at 2300 m in Cachi, Salta, and returned to the track after leaving the sport. Her coach, Leonardo Malgor, notes that the athlete “has much more to give.”
  • Ignacio Erario: 1h00m59s, 14 seconds shy of Antonio Silio's national record (1h00m45s). The Mendoza native, father of Felipe, runs with the same passion he had before his wife's motherhood. He plans to compete in the marathon in Münster, Germany, to try Joaquín Arbe's record.
  • Florencia Borelli: South American record holder, stopped at km 12, leaving the race open. Her presence influenced the race dynamics.
  • Yomif Kejelcha: 56m51s, 1.85 m tall and 58 kg. He set the world record for the half marathon.
  • Antonio Silio: 60 years old, returned to run and finished in under 1h30. He commented that “he still doesn’t have the record” and that footwear technology helps lower times.

Participation and context

The 37th edition of the Buenos Aires Half Marathon recorded nearly 31,500 entrants, the largest ever. Competitors included athletes from various provinces: Marplatense Sofía Luna, Mendoza's Ignacio Erario, Misionero Chiara Mainetti (38 years, 1h12m33s), and Cordobese Dahyana Juarez. The race took place at 8 a.m. on a cold, sunny Sunday, with weather that favored record times.

Looking ahead

Sofía Luna hopes to raise funds to return to Cachi and keep training, while Ignacio Erario prepares for the German marathon. Both share the conviction that motherhood and fatherhood have not hindered their passion for athletics but have reinforced it.

Conclusion

The day was marked by personal triumph and the demonstration that age and family responsibilities are not barriers to achieving athletic goals. The Argentine athletes who wrote their story in fire at the Buenos Aires Half Marathon left a legacy of inspiration and determination.