Victory for Man Who Came Last in Chicago Marathon

Has muscular dystrophy, finished race in 17 hours
By Ruth Brown,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 14, 2013 4:15 PM CDT
Victory for Man Who Came Last in Boston Marathon
Runners participate in the Chicago Marathon in Chicago.   (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

The Chicago Marathon last place getter may also be its biggest winner. Maickel Melamed, 38, is battling muscular dystrophy, but still managed to finish the entire race with a time of 16 hours and 46 minutes. The Venezuelan crossed the finish line at 1am this morning, surrounded by 100 people, NBC Chicago reports. "My message is: If you dream it, make it happen," he said afterwards. "Your life is the most beautiful thing that could happen to you. Make the best with that, and share the best of that." Melamed has also run the New York and Berlin marathons, reports the Chicago Tribune, and plans to tackle Tokyo and Boston next. (More marathon stories.)

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