Achilles Athletes Shine on Podium at 2022 Boston Marathon
ATHLETES RECEIVE SEVERAL AWARDS IN PARA ATHLETICS DIVISIONS
Forty-seven Achilles athletes from across the globe shined at the 126th Boston Marathon held on Monday, April 18, 2022. Several athletes came out on top and placed in their respective divisions.
We congratulate:
Ary Carlos Santos Dias, Brazil, placed first in the Men’s Para T13 (vision impairment) at 2:46:37 and placed second overall among the combined T11-T13 division
Alfredo “Freddie” De Los Santos, Achilles Freedom Team, placed first in the Men’s Handcycle at 1:08:40
Wendy Larsen, Houston, placed first in the Women’s Handcycle at 1:35:10, her second year in a ro
Top Three
Dustin Baker, Achilles Freedom Team, placed second in the Men’s Handcycle
Devann Murphy, New York, placed second in the Women’s Handcycle
Batzorig “Zoro” Baasai, Mongolia, placed second in the Men’s Para T45-T46 (upper limb impairment)
Eric Strong, Charlotte, placed second in the Men’s Para T11/T12 (vision impairment)
Irwin Ramirez, Washington D.C., placed third in the Men’s Para T11/T12 (vision impairment)
Adam Popp, Achilles Freedom Team, placed third in the Men’s Para T61-T64 (lower limb impairment)
We also congratulate Darwin Vallejo of Achilles Ecuador, the top Achilles finisher in the open Adaptive Program for Runners division.
It was wonderful to be welcomed by the Achilles Boston chapter throughout the weekend who also provided volunteer support and hosted events.
The Achilles Freedom Team began marathon weekend with a special welcome on field at the Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park on April 17 where they were cheered on from the stands by their fellow Achilles athletes and a nearly sold out crowd. Dustin Baker, retired United States Air Force Staff Sergeant, threw out the first pitch.
Achilles had participants from several U.S. and International chapters including Boston, Charlotte, Connecticut, Houston, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, Washington, D.C., and Brazil, Ecuador, Mongolia and the United Kingdom.
Jessica Hayon of Achilles NYC completed her first Boston Marathon thanks to the mentorship and support of her training partner Cesar Jimenez of the Achilles Freedom Team. “It was a tough ride, but I made it! And with my best riding buddy and coach always there to push and encourage me,” she said.
It was also Ary Dias’ first Boston Marathon. The Achilles Brazil athlete was left nearly blind when a stray bullet struck him as he stood beside his elementary school when he was 11.
"When I started running, I fell in love with it. I found normalcy once I started getting involved in [this sport]. I felt alive again,” Dias told ESPN.
He said his goal was to finish in the top of his division. Mission accomplished!
The showdown between Dias and Chaz Davis, USA, the top runner overall in the combined vision impairment (T11-T13) division, was electric and one of the biggest stories of the day. Dias took a commanding lead at the halfway point but Davis caught and passed Dias at the 30K mark finishing in 2:45:45, approximately just one minute faster.
We congratulate the Achilles community on an outstanding showing at the marathon. Their dedication to their sport is remarkable. We are already looking forward to next April.
Marathon weekends like this would not be possible without the support from: Cigna, the GM Military Appreciation Program, the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, the Boston Police Department, Yankee Line Inc., the Westin Boston Seaport Hotel staff and the Boston Red Sox.
