Dulce María Rodríguez

Dulce María Rodríguez de la Cruz (born 14 August 1972) is a Mexican long-distance runner who competes in track and road running events, including the marathon. A three-time Olympian for Mexico (2000, 2004 and 2008), she has also run for Mexico at the World Championships in Athletics on three occasions.

Rodríguez has won medals internationally for Mexico, including two golds and a silver from the Central American and Caribbean Games and a silver from the 2007 Pan American Games. She holds a marathon best of 2:28:54 hours, set at the 2006 Chicago Marathon, and has won domestic marathon races in Mexico City, Torreón and Monterrey.

She has won numerous national titles in long-distance events, including the 10,000 m in 1999, five 1500 m titles from 2000 to 2005, and two Mexican titles in the marathon in 2005 and 2009.

Career

Born in Toluca, she competed at her first high-profile, international competitions in 2000. She ran in the long race at the 2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, represented Mexico at the 2000 Summer Olympics over 5000 metres, and competed for the hosts at the 2000 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Veracruz, where she was 37th overall. She made her debut over the marathon distance in 2001 and was the runner-up at the Lalá Marathon in Torreón. Rodríguez competed internationally over 5000 m that year at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics. She also won the inaugural North American 5K Championships title that year, helping Mexico to the team title as well. She missed out on a medal at the 2003 Pan American Games, taking fifth in the 1500 m, although she did win the Mexico City Marathon later that year. She established a new best time of 1:11:36 hours for the half marathon at the 2004 Paris Half Marathon with her second-place performance. She made her second Olympic appearance at the 2004 Athens Olympics, taking part in the heats of the 5000 m. She set a personal best in the 10,000 metres the following month, running 31:25.33 minutes in Palo Alto, California. She was selected for both the 5000 m and 10,000 m events at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics, but did not fare well at either distance. She also secured fourth place at the Berlin Half Marathon. She represented Mexico internationally in the marathon for the first time at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, but did not manage to finish the race. She ended the year with an appearance at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships and registered her highest placing at a world event, coming 21st overall.

Personal bests 1500 m: 4:11,46 min (2007) 3000 m: 9:02,34 min (2001) 5000 m: 15:18,06 min (2004) 10,000 m: 31:25,33 min (2005) Half marathon: 1:10:30 (2005) Marathon: 2:28:54 (2006)

Achievements