Dionicio Cerón
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dionicio Cerón Pizarro (born October 9, 1965 in Toluca) is a former marathon runner from Mexico, who's personal best in the classic distance was 2:08:30. He represented his native country twice at the Summer Olympics: in 1996 and 2000.
While the marathon brought Cerón fame and fortune, he previously established himself over the shorter distance road races. He burst onto the international running scene in 1988 with a victory in the historic and always competitive San Blas Half Marathon in Puerto Rico. In 1990 Cerón dominated US road racing, winning the Elby’s Big Boy (20km), Cascade Run-off (15km), Peachtree Road Race (10km) and the Philadelphia Distance Run Half Marathon, where he set a world record.
Cerón is best known as the three-time champion of the London Marathon, with wins in 1994, 1995, and 1996. Other major victories are Oita in 1992, Rotterdam, Fukuoka and Mexico City marathons in 1993. The Mexico win resulted in a course record that still stands.
Cerón was the silver medallist in the 1995 World Championships in Athletics in Sweden, finishing behind Spain’s Martin Fiz, and in 1993 and 1994 was rated the world’s number one marathoner. He is the only runner to run under 2:09 for the marathon in five consecutive years, from 1992 to 1996.
Ceron is still actively running for health and fitness, plus he is coaching a group of ten young runners.
