The Medium International Cobán Marathon This 2025 celebrated its 49th edition, framed within the 50th anniversary since its foundation. Half a century of tradition, emotion, sweat and glory that this competition has turned into the heart of Guatemalan and Central American athletics. Although it was not performed in the 2020s and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, its legacy remains intact.
On this trip over time, Guatemala has achieved 10 triumphs in the male branchalthough in the last four decades only five chapines They have managed to cross the goal in the first position. This data highlights how complicated it has been for national fondistas to impose themselves to the growing quality of the international platoon.
Names like Hugo Allan García (1986), Virgilio Herrera (1987), Alberto Paredes (1990), Mario Pacay (2024) and now Alberto González (2023 and 2025) They shine with their own light. González’s victory this year not only confirms his great level, but also places it in a privileged place in history: it becomes the second more winner Guatemalanjust behind Virgilio Herrera, who raised his arms in 1979, 1983 and 1987.
The other four national triumphs date from the founding era: Victoriano López Coco (1976), Eulalio Herrera (1982) and the first two conquests of Virgilio Herrera. That Chapín domain, rooted in the initial history of the event, was gradually giving space to the arrival of high -level runners from Africa, South America, Europe and North America.
In contrast, female history presents a different panorama. Guatemala adds 23 victories in womenalthough with a clear division between the absolute domain in the first years – when the competition was exclusively national – and the drought that persists since 1992. 33 years have passed without a Guatemalan being crowned in Cobán.
This 2025 again marked the pattern of foreign domain, with the Peruana Sheyla Eulogio taking the crown after a brilliant race. His victory adds to the long list of international champions who have left their mark on Cobaneras lands in the last three decades.
#MediaMatón I families were present to support all runners. Thousands of Guatemalans were present to live the feast of Athletics in Cobán.
📸 Erick Ávila pic.twitter.com/7llyljorjw
– SPORTS_PL (@todDeportes_PL) May 25, 2025
Despite the pride generated by triumphs such as González, the half marathon also reflects a pending challenge for national athletics: to fight regularly again, especially in the female branch. Current generations have the task of cutting that gap and returning glory to the country.
However, Cobán remains an inspiration platform, a meeting point for history, emotion and talent. Each edition writes a new page in this book of half a century, and the future is still underway with the hope of more golden chapters for Guatemalan corridors.