Ayrton Daniel Ledesma Fuentes set a new course record at the 23rd Ensenada FlashLyte International Half Marathon on May 17, crossing the finish line at Playa Hermosa in 1:08:47. His time shattered the previous mark by more than 35 seconds. Argentina Valdepeñas Cerna won the women’s division in 1:17:37.
The race drew roughly 5,000 participants total. Of those, 2,500 were competitive half-marathon runners and another 2,500 took part in a recreational 2K event. The course ran along Ensenada’s waterfront, starting and finishing at Playa Hermosa, the beach area near the city’s main tourist corridor about 80 miles south of the U.S. border at San Ysidro.
Prize Money and City Celebrations
Ensenada Mayor Claudia Agatón presided over the awards ceremony, where organizers distributed 320,500 pesos (roughly $16,000 USD) in prize money across multiple categories. The race was held as part of Ensenada’s 144th founding anniversary celebrations.
Top finishers from Baja California received special recognition. The event also featured inclusion categories for wheelchair athletes, runners with disabilities, and visually impaired competitors.
Growing Sports Tourism Draw
Now in its 23rd year, the Ensenada half marathon has become one of the largest annual road races on the Baja California peninsula. The event draws runners from across Mexico and from Southern California, where race communities regularly cross the border for events in Ensenada and Rosarito.
Ensenada’s coastal setting and relatively mild May weather make it a draw for distance runners. The city has invested in sports tourism in recent years, with the half marathon serving as a flagship event alongside wine country cycling races and open-water swimming competitions.
Participants can download their official race times and digital finisher certificates through the RunOnRufus event portal. The 23rd edition was organized under the FlashLyte title sponsorship.
This story was first reported by Baja California Post.