Byron Efrén Piedra Ávilés (born August 9, 1982 in Cuenca) is an Ecuadorian middle distance and long-distance runner.
He won the 2007 edition of the Guayaquil Marathon. He also competed at the 2004 Olympic Games, the 2005 Summer Universiade, the 2007 World Championships and the 2008 Olympic Games without reaching the final round.
He demonstrated his regional strength with a double gold in the 1500 metres and 5000 metres at the 2009 South American Championships in Athletics. He decided to run in both the 1500 m and 5000 m races at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics but he did not succeed in either event, finishing third last in the heats of the 1500 m and failing to finish at all in the 5000 m
He has medalled at regional competitions a number of times. He took part in the 2003 Pan American Games and reached the 1500 m final, finishing in eighth. In 2004, he came within a second of scoring a long race/short race double at the South American Cross Country Championships, but Juan Suárez of Argentina just finished ahead of him in the short competition. He won a bronze in the long race in 2006.[1] He improved upon his past performance by taking a bronze in the 2007 Pan American Games.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing Ecuador | |||||
| 2006 | South American Championships | Tunja, Colombia | 3rd | 1500 m | |
| 2nd | 5000 m | ||||
| 2007 | South American Championships | São Paulo, Brazil | 1st | 1500 m | |
| Guayaquil Marathon | Guayaquil, Ecuador | 1st | Marathon | 2:20:58 | |
| 2008 | Guayaquil Marathon | Guayaquil, Ecuador | 1st | Marathon | 2:20:42 |
| Ibero-American Championships | Iquique, Chile | 2nd | 1500m | ||
| 1st | 3000 m | ||||
| 2009 | South American Championships | Lima, Peru | 1st | 1500 m | |
| 1st | 5000 m | ||||
| 2010 | Continental Cup | Split, Croatia | 3rd | 3000 m | 7:55.52 |
| 2011 | Pan American Games | Guadalajara, Mexico | 2nd | 1500 m | 3:53.45 |
| 2nd | 5000 m | 14:15.74 | |||
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