Peruvian runner Cristhian Pacheco was officially welcomed by Instituto Peruano del Deporte president Óscar Fernández Cáceres in Lima after winning the 43rd Mexico City Marathon. During the official meeting, the two inspected ongoing upgrade works on the athletic track at the Villa Deportiva Nacional complex as part of preparations for the Lima 2027 Pan American Games.
Fernández Cáceres described Pacheco, a member of the official Programa Lima 2027, as a source of pride for the nation and an example of perseverance. The institute president said the marathon victory demonstrated the high competitive level of Peruvian sportspeople and provided motivation to continue strengthening athlete preparation ahead of the 2027 continental games.
The Instituto Peruano del Deporte is Peru's state sports governing body, responsible for managing national athletic policies and funding state training initiatives. Fernández Cáceres noted that his administration actively supports elite competitors through specialized institutional schemes, including the Programa de Apoyo al Deportista and the dedicated Lima 2027 program.
The athletic track under inspection is located inside the Villa Deportiva Nacional, known as Videna, in the San Borja district of Lima. The complex serves as the central hub for high-performance sports training in Peru and hosted major events during the 2019 Pan American Games.
Airport reception and athlete response
Pacheco expressed satisfaction with the official reception organized upon his return to the Peruvian capital, stating that as an athlete he felt valued and respected by current sports authorities. He noted that the gesture reflected a clear change from previous years, when no officials came to receive him at the airport after international competitions.
The two-time continental champion reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining his training regime, pledging to represent Peru at upcoming editions of the Pan American Games and to continue bringing honor to the country in international competition.
Pacheco arrived back in the country during the early hours of Wednesday following his marathon victory in Mexico. Upon landing at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Callao, Peru's primary international gateway, he was met by Javier Ramírez, director of the National Directorate of Affiliated Sport, who represented the state sports institute at the terminal.
Race timing and family legacy
In winning the 43rd Mexico City Marathon, Pacheco completed the 42.195-kilometre course in a winning time of two hours, ten minutes and three seconds. The performance enabled him to overcome the main race favorites and surpass the course records set by his brother and trainer, Raúl Pacheco, who won the Mexico City event in 2013 and 2014.
Run at an elevation of more than 2,200 metres above sea level, the annual Mexico City Marathon is widely regarded as one of the most demanding long-distance road races in Latin America due to the extreme altitude.
Pacheco established his standing among the region's top distance runners by winning consecutive marathon gold medals for Peru at the Pan American Games in Lima in 2019 and Santiago in 2023. He has now shifted his focus toward upcoming international assignments, led by the Odesur Santa Fe 2026 Games.
The Odesur Games, also known as the South American Games, are a quadrennial multi-sport competition organized by the South American Sports Organization. The 2026 edition is scheduled to take place from September 12 to September 26 in Argentina.
Tennis highlights and national sports outlook
During the meeting, Fernández Cáceres also highlighted the recent international performances of Peruvian tennis player Ignacio Buse. The sports head expressed satisfaction with the young player's recent results, noting that the institute is closely following developments as Peru prepares for its upcoming Davis Cup tie.
Fernández Cáceres added that the institute remains focused on accompanying the full national delegation that will represent Peru at the upcoming Odesur Games in Argentina later in the month.
