Dulce María Rodríguez
Encyclopedia
Dulce María Rodríguez de la Cruz (born 14 August 1972) is a Mexican
long-distance runner who competes in track
and road running
events, including the marathon
. A three-time Olympian for Mexico (2000, 2004 and 2008), she has also ran for Mexico at the World Championships in Athletics on three occasions.
Rodríguez has won medals internationally for Mexico, including two golds and a silver from the Central American and Caribbean Games
and a silver from the 2007 Pan American Games
. She holds a marathon best of 2:28:54 hours, set at the 2006 Chicago Marathon
, and has won domestic marathon races in Mexico City, Torreón and Monterrey.
She has won numerous national titles in long-distance events, including the 10,000 m in 1999, five 1500 m titles from 2000 to 2005, and two Mexican titles in the marathon in 2005 and 2009.
, she competed at her first high-profile, international competitions in 2000. She ran in the long race at the 2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
, represented Mexico at the 2000 Summer Olympics
over 5000 metres
, and competed for the hosts at the 2000 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
in Veracruz
, where she was 37th overall. She made her debut over the marathon
distance in 2001 and was the runner-up at the Lala Marathon in Torreón
. Rodríguez competed internationally over 5000 m that year at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics
.
She took a regional double at the 2002 CAC Games
, taking the gold medal
s in the 1500 metres
and 5000 m. She missed out on a medal at the 2003 Pan American Games
, taking fifth in the 1500 m, although she did win the Mexico City Marathon later that year. She established a new best time of 1:11:36 hours for the half marathon
at the 2004 Paris Half Marathon
with her second place performance. She made her second Olympic appearance at the 2004 Athens Olympics, taking part in the heats of the 5000 m.
Rodríguez won at the Lala Marathon in April 2005, setting a course record time of 2:29:00 hours – her first run under two and a half hours. She set a personal best in the 10,000 metres the following month, running 31:25.33 minutes in Palo Alto, California
. She was selected for both the 5000 m and 10,000 m events at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics
, but did not fare well at either distance. She received an elite invitation to the New York City Marathon
that year and was 14th in the race. She was second at the Gran Pacifico Mazatlan Half Marathon, completing the distance in a career best time of 1:10:30 hours.
Attempting to defend her 5000 m title, she entered the 2006 CAC Games
, but found herself beaten into the silver medal
position by Columbia's Bertha Sánchez
. On the roads, she was fifth at the Philadelphia Distance Run and came tenth at the Chicago Marathon
, setting a new personal record of 2:28:54 hours for the event. The highlight of her 2007 season was a 10,000 m silver medal behind Sara Slattery
at the 2007 Pan American Games
. She was fourth in the 5000 m at that tournament, as well as placing top three at that year's Stramilano Half Marathon.
Her third consecutive Olympic selection came at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
, where she ran in the final of the 10,000 m. Domestically, she was second at the Lala Marathon and won the Monterrey Marathon. She also secured fourth place at the Berlin Half Marathon
. She came second to Margarita Tapia at the 2009 Lala Marathon, but was later upgraded to first as Tapia failed her post-race drugs test. She made her represented Mexico internationally in the marathon for the first time at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
, but did not manage to finish the race. She ended the year with an appearance at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
and registered her highest placing at a world event, coming 21st overall.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
long-distance runner who competes in track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
and road running
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
events, including the marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
. A three-time Olympian for Mexico (2000, 2004 and 2008), she has also ran for Mexico at the World Championships in Athletics on three occasions.
Rodríguez has won medals internationally for Mexico, including two golds and a silver from the Central American and Caribbean Games
Central American and Caribbean Games
The Central American and Caribbean Games are a multi-sport regional championships event, held quadrennial , typically in the middle year between Summer Olympics...
and a silver from the 2007 Pan American Games
2007 Pan American Games
The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to July 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic Committees competed in 332 events in 34 sports and in...
. She holds a marathon best of 2:28:54 hours, set at the 2006 Chicago Marathon
Chicago Marathon
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a major marathon held yearly in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Alongside the Boston, New York, London and Berlin Marathons, it is one of the five World Marathon Majors. Thus, it is also an IAAF Gold Label race...
, and has won domestic marathon races in Mexico City, Torreón and Monterrey.
She has won numerous national titles in long-distance events, including the 10,000 m in 1999, five 1500 m titles from 2000 to 2005, and two Mexican titles in the marathon in 2005 and 2009.
Career
Born in TolucaToluca
Toluca, formally known as Toluca de Lerdo, is the state capital of Mexico State as well as the seat of the Municipality of Toluca. It is the center of a rapidly growing urban area, now the fifth largest in Mexico. It is located west-southwest of Mexico City and only about 40 minutes by car to the...
, she competed at her first high-profile, international competitions in 2000. She ran in the long race at the 2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 28th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held 18-19 March 2000 in Vilamoura, Portugal.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :...
, represented Mexico at the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
over 5000 metres
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
, and competed for the hosts at the 2000 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
2000 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The 9th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held on November 12, 2000 in the city of Veracruz, Mexico. A total of 182 athletes, 121 men and 61 women, from 52 countries took part.-Individual:-Team:-Individual:-Team:...
in Veracruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
, where she was 37th overall. She made her debut over the marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
distance in 2001 and was the runner-up at the Lala Marathon in Torreón
Torreón
Torreón is a city and seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name in the Mexican state of Coahuila. As of 2010, the city's population was 608,836 with 639,629 in the municipality. The metropolitan population, including Matamoros, Coahuila, and Gómez Palacio and Lerdo in adjacent Durango,...
. Rodríguez competed internationally over 5000 m that year at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics
2001 World Championships in Athletics
The 8th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada between 3 August and 12 August and was the first time the event had visited North America...
.
She took a regional double at the 2002 CAC Games
Athletics at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games
The track and field competition at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games was held in San Salvador, El Salvador.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:* - GBR Athletics* - GBR Athletics...
, taking the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
s in the 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
and 5000 m. She missed out on a medal at the 2003 Pan American Games
Athletics at the 2003 Pan American Games
The athletics competition at the 2003 Pan American Games was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from Tuesday August 5 to Saturday August 9, 2003...
, taking fifth in the 1500 m, although she did win the Mexico City Marathon later that year. She established a new best time of 1:11:36 hours for the half marathon
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
at the 2004 Paris Half Marathon
Paris Half Marathon
Paris Half Marathon is an annual half marathon held every March in Paris, France. It currently holds IAAF Bronze Label status....
with her second place performance. She made her second Olympic appearance at the 2004 Athens Olympics, taking part in the heats of the 5000 m.
Rodríguez won at the Lala Marathon in April 2005, setting a course record time of 2:29:00 hours – her first run under two and a half hours. She set a personal best in the 10,000 metres the following month, running 31:25.33 minutes in Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
. She was selected for both the 5000 m and 10,000 m events at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics
2005 World Championships in Athletics
The 10th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held in the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland , the site of the first IAAF World Championships in 1983. One theme of the 2005 championships was paralympic sports, some of...
, but did not fare well at either distance. She received an elite invitation to the New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
that year and was 14th in the race. She was second at the Gran Pacifico Mazatlan Half Marathon, completing the distance in a career best time of 1:10:30 hours.
Attempting to defend her 5000 m title, she entered the 2006 CAC Games
Athletics at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
The athletics competition at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games took place at the Estadio Pedro de Heredia in Cartagena, Colombia and lasted from July 25 to July 29. There were 23 events for men and 21 for women...
, but found herself beaten into the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
position by Columbia's Bertha Sánchez
Bertha Sánchez
Bertha Oliva Sánchez Rivera is a female long-distance runner from Colombia, who won several medals on continental level from the mid-1990s on. She has won twice at the South American Cross Country Championships; first winning the long race in 2000, then winning the short race competition in...
. On the roads, she was fifth at the Philadelphia Distance Run and came tenth at the Chicago Marathon
Chicago Marathon
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a major marathon held yearly in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Alongside the Boston, New York, London and Berlin Marathons, it is one of the five World Marathon Majors. Thus, it is also an IAAF Gold Label race...
, setting a new personal record of 2:28:54 hours for the event. The highlight of her 2007 season was a 10,000 m silver medal behind Sara Slattery
Sara Slattery
Sara Elizabeth Slattery is an American middle- and long-distance runner who mainly competes in track races...
at the 2007 Pan American Games
Athletics at the 2007 Pan American Games
The athletics competition at the 2007 Pan American Games was held at the Flamengo Park and Estádio Olímpico João Havelange in Rio de Janeiro between 22 July and 29 July 2007...
. She was fourth in the 5000 m at that tournament, as well as placing top three at that year's Stramilano Half Marathon.
Her third consecutive Olympic selection came at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, where she ran in the final of the 10,000 m. Domestically, she was second at the Lala Marathon and won the Monterrey Marathon. She also secured fourth place at the Berlin Half Marathon
Berlin Half Marathon
Berlin Half Marathon is an annual half marathon race held in early Spring in Berlin, Germany. The race was first held in 1984. A total of 23,799 runners took part in the half marathon in 2010...
. She came second to Margarita Tapia at the 2009 Lala Marathon, but was later upgraded to first as Tapia failed her post-race drugs test. She made her represented Mexico internationally in the marathon for the first time at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
, but did not manage to finish the race. She ended the year with an appearance at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held in Birmingham, United Kingdom on 11 October 2009. It was the final event of the International Association of Athletics Federations' 2009 World Athletics Series.-Organisation:...
and registered her highest placing at a world event, coming 21st overall.
Personal bests
- 1500 m: 4:11,46 min (2007)
- 3000 m: 9:02,34 min (2001)
- 5000 m: 15:18,06 min (2004)
- 10,000 m: 31:25,33 min (2005)
- Half marathonHalf marathonA half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
: 1:10:30 (2005) - MarathonMarathonThe marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
: 2:28:54 (2006)