César Mercado

César Mercado
Personal information
Born (1959-10-25) October 25, 1959
Maricao, Puerto Rico
Sport
SportMarathon running
Medal record
Representing  Puerto Rico
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place1983 CaracasMarathon
Central American and Caribbean Games
Silver medal – second place1990 Mexico CityMarathon

César Mercado (born October 25, 1959) is a Puerto Rican former long-distance runner who competed internationally in the marathon during the 1980s. He earned a silver medal at the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas behind teammate Jorge González. Mercado went on to represent his country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, finishing 31st. He later secured another prominent runner-up finish at the Central American and Caribbean Games, clocking a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 40 seconds.

Early life and career

He was born on 25 October 1959.[1]

At the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela, he got a silver medal in the men's marathon, finishing with an official time of 2 hours, 20 minutes, and 30 seconds. Mercado's runner-up finish was behind Jorge González, who won the race in 2:12:43. Following Mercado on the podium, Miguel Ángel Cruz of Mexico claimed the bronze medal in 2:21:12, closely followed by Venezuelan runners Armando Azócar and Luis Bautista in fourth and fifth places with times of 2:21:30 and 2:22:35, respectively. Rounding out the race, Rafael Parra of Colombia finished sixth in 2:22:51, while Manuel García of Mexico completed the group in seventh place at 2:24:35.[2]

At the 1984 Olympic Games, he competed in the marathon and finished 31st.[3]

César Mercado got second place with an official time of 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 40 seconds just behind Jorge González, who won the race in 2:18:55 seconds. Following Mercado across the line, Oscar J. Mejía of Venezuela took third place in 2:21:40, while Graciano González of Mexico and Kimball P. Reynierse of Aruba rounded out the top five with times of 2:25:16 and 2:25:29, respectively. Behind Mercado's podium pace, the remaining field finished with Costa Rica's Miguel A. Vargas in sixth (2:27:28), Colombia's José I. Ramírez in seventh (2:27:40), Nicaragua's William J. Aguirre in eighth (2:29:32), Costa Rica's Juan D. Amores in ninth (2:30:02), and the Dominican Republic's Julio C. Rosa alongside Mexico's Gumersindo Olmedo completing the standings in tenth and eleventh.[4]

Achievements

YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
Representing  Puerto Rico
1983 Pan American Games Caracas, Venezuela 2nd Marathon 2:20:30
1984 Olympic Games Los Angeles, United States 31st Marathon 2:19:09
1989 Central American and Caribbean Championships San Juan, Puerto Rico 2nd Half Marathon 1:08:38
1990 Central American and Caribbean Games Mexico City, Mexico 2nd Marathon 2:18:59
1991 Pan American Games Havana, Cuba 14th Marathon 2:35:31
1995 Pan American Games Mar del Plata, Argentina 14th Marathon 2:25:38

References

  1. ↑ "César Mercado". Olympedia. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  2. ↑ IX JUEGOS DEPORTIVOS PANAMERICANOS IX PAN AMERICAN SPORTS GAMES (PDF) (in Spanish). 1983. p. 122.
  3. ↑ "Puerto Rico in Athletics". Olympedia. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  4. ↑ XVI JUEGOS DEPORTIVOSCENIROAMERICANOS pEEiis (PDF). 1990. p. 147.
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