Record number of US runners for Havana Marathon

Around 600 Americans have registered for the 29th edition of the Havana Marathon, known as the Marabana.

"A total of 567 runners from the United States have officially registered. A record number for such events," Carlos Gattorno, the president of the Marabana's organising committee, said on Saturday, reports Xinhua.

Gattorno said that a strong movement of marathon runners from Boston led the US delegation which represents almost half of the total 1,463 runners from 60 countries that have registered for the race. There are also 107 Mexican, 97 Italian, 80 German, 73 Spanish, 71 French, 55 Danish and 44 Brazilian marathoners registered to participate.

Runner Richer Perez is among the registered athletes. The Cuban won the marathon in the Pan-American Games in Toronto in July.

Athletes who meet the required times and points in this marathon will be granted tickets to compete in the 42 kilometres and 195 metres race at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

In the last edition of the Marabana, 80 American runners participated. At the time, this figure was the highest number from the US since the marathon's creation back in 1986.