Arturo Barrios

Arturo Barrios Flores (born December 12, 1962) is a Mexican and American long-distance runner who set the 10,000 m world record in 1989, the one hour world record in 1991, and the 20,000 m world record en route to the one hour run world record. He placed third in the 1993 New York City Marathon and 1994 New York City Marathon. He also finished fifth in the 10,000 meters at the 1988 Summer Olympics and 1992 Summer Olympics and fourth in the event at the 1987 World Athletics Championships.

Career Barrios finished in fifth place in the 10,000 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He is a former world record holder at the 10,000 m (27:08.23, set on August 18, 1989, at the Internationales Stadionfest (ISTAF) in Berlin, Germany). Barrios' record was not broken until 1993 when Richard Chelimo ran 27:07.91 in Stockholm. This mark stood as the North American record until May 1, 2010, and still stands as the national record of Mexico.

On March 30, 1991, Barrios set world records at one hour (21.101 km) and 20,000 m (56:55.6). These records stood until June 2007, when they were broken by Haile Gebrselassie. Barrios' 1991 performance makes him the first man ever to run a half-marathon distance in less than one hour; the first to do so in an actual half-marathon competition was Moses Tanui in 1993. That performance also still stands as the North American records and the Mexican record for those two events.

In 1992 he participated in the World Cup in Athletics, running the 5000 m with a time of 13:50.95, finishing in second place.

Between 1987 and 1990, Barrios won the San Francisco Bay to Breakers race, considered the largest footrace in the world, four consecutive times.

Barrios became a United States citizen in September 1994. Barrios graduated from Texas A&M University in 1985 where he competed in track and cross country for the Aggies. Barrios was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998.

Personal records Distance Time Date Venue 1500 metres 3:37.61 13 August 1989 Hengelo, Netherlands 3000 metres 7:35.71 10 July 1989 Nice, France 5000 metres 13:07.79 14 July 1989 London, United Kingdom 10,000 metres 27:08.23 18 August 1989 Berlin, Germany 15,000 metres 42:36 29 July 1986 Portland, United States 20,000 metres 56:55.6 30 March 1991 La Fléche, France Time Distance Date Location One Hour 21.101 km 30 March 1991 La Fléche, France

Achievements