Great news for fans of María Portilla, the Andean-born marathon runner who represented Peru in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games. Maria Portilla (center) runs in the Baltimore Marathon / photo by Kristine Buls/Examiner Portilla won the Baltimore Women’s Marathon this past Saturday, October 11, with a time just shy of the Peruvian national record. The Baltimore Examiner reports: Maria Portilla of Peru won the women’s marathon in 2:36:32 — just short of the Peruvian world record of 3:35:19, which she set at the Beijing Olympics this summer. “After the half-mile point, I started to push hard,” Portilla said, adding she began to pull away around the 20-mile mark. Portilla,…

Sixto Barrera carries Peru’s flag during Opening Ceremonies, Beijing Summer Olympic Games, August 2008 Peruvian wrestler Sixto Barrera, who represented his country in the Beijing Summer Olympic Games of 2008, was honored on August 26 by the United Nations, reports RPP Noticias. The wrestler was decorated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for setting an inspirational example for young people. “I am very grateful for the people who supported me and made possible my participation in the 2008 Beijing Olympics,” said Barrera after receiving the distinction by the representative of UNESCO in Peru, Katherine Muller. Peru’s “first guitarist,” Oscar Aviles (now 83 years old) The athlete also was congratulated by the renowned Peruvian Criolla musician…

This story continues the coverage began in Keeping up with Peru’s Olympians, posted August 11.  BEST PLACE TO VIEW LIVE OLYMPICS COVERAGE Log onto http://www.NBCOlympics.com for streaming videos and up-to-the-minute coverage of the events as they happen.  The site is in English and is easily navigated. Now I can stop kvetching about the poor Olympics coverage by Peruvian television stations. WRESTLING RESULTS               Barrera told reporters in Beijing that his elbow was seriously injured in an earlier match with China’s  Yongxiang Chang, who applied an “improper” hold.  Medal winners in the 74 k category are: Gold, Manuchar Kvirkelia (Georgia), Silver, Change Yongxiang (China), Bronze, Yavor Yanakiev (Bulgaria) and…