Lima Half Marathon recognised with World Athletics Heritage Plaque

The Lima Half Marathon (1909), Lima, Peru, has been awarded the World Athletics Heritage Plaque in the category of Competition to celebrate the race’s 115th year.

The announcement comes three days ahead of the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24 where more than 1700 athletes from 134 teams are set to compete at the Estadio Atletico de la Videna between 27-31 August 2024.

The World Athletics Heritage Plaque will be officially presented to the race organisers of the Lima Half Marathon on Sunday 25 August, the morning of this year’s race, by World Athletics Council Member Helio Gesta de Melo, President of Atletismo Sudamericano.

The plaque will be exhibited to runners throughout race day, after which it will be permanently displayed in 'Municipalidad de Lima' (Lima's City Council).

The World Athletics Heritage Plaque is a location-based recognition, awarded for "an outstanding contribution to the worldwide history and development of the sport of track & field athletics and of out of stadia athletics disciplines such as cross country, mountain, road, trail and ultra-running, and race walking."

Gesta de Melo commented: "The World Athletics Heritage Plaque programme was launched by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe in December 2018, since when more than 90 plaques have been awarded worldwide. The plaque was born in South America. Fernando Silva, a recreational runner from the Brazilian city of Manaus, won an international competition to design the plaque in 2019.

“I am delighted to congratulate the Lima Half Marathon which was founded in 1909, and is the sixth South American recipient of the plaque**."

The event joins an illustrious list of some of the oldest road races in the world which have received this recognition, these include: Around The Bay Road Race (1894), Turkey Trot (1896), Bechovic 10k (1897), BAA Boston Marathon (1897), Giro Podistico di Castelbuono (1912), Kosice Marathon (1924) and Saint Silvester Sao Paulo (1925).

Alejandra Rodriguez Larrain Bustamante, Peru Runners CEO and Lima Half Marathon race director, commented: "At Peru Runners, we are deeply honoured to receive the World Athletics Heritage Plaque on behalf of the Lima Half Marathon. This recognition is not only a privilege but also a commitment to keep this event alive and growing, paying tribute to its founders and all the people who have been part of its journey.

"We take great pride in our rich history and tradition in running, and this award strengthens our promise to continue showcasing that Peruvian running events set the standard and lead by example throughout Latin America and the world."

The legacy of Nicanor Villavicencio

The Lima Half Marathon held its inaugural event in 1909 with 70 runners, and Julio Calderon emerged victorious in the first two editions. By 1918, the race had introduced its first international participant, marking the start of its global tradition.

From the beginning, this iconic race has attracted both local and international athletes, running through the most frequented and emblematic squares of Lima, passing through various districts of the capital, and concluding in Callao, another notable city of the country.

The Lima Half Marathon was established through the efforts of Nicanor Villavicencio, a dedicated sports leader. In celebration of Peru’s Independence Day, Fiestas Patrias, Villavicencio encouraged and involved athletes and local authorities to organise the event.

In its early years, the race received support from the Club Atletico Grau and the Provincial Council of Lima. By 1930, the Peruvian Athletics Federation had joined in promoting the race, followed by the Asociacion de Fondistas Peruanos in 1959. Since 2008, Peru Runners and the Municipality of Lima have co-organised the event, ensuring the continuation of its rich tradition.

Currently, the Lima Half Marathon stands as one of the premier events on Peru’s sports calendar. With participation exceeding 17,000 runners from more than 30 countries, it has solidified its status as a first-class sporting event. The race continues attracting athletes from all over the world and reaffirming its historical and cultural legacy.

World Athletics Heritage

**South American recipients:

Category: Competition

Saint Silvester Sao Paulo (BRA)
Lima Half Marathon (PER)

Category: Culture

Galeria Olimpica RGM (BRA)

Category: Legend (posthumous)

Adhemar Ferreira Da Silva (BRA)
Dietrich Gerner (GER / BRA)
Juan Carlos Zabala (ARG)