Brasília, 12/26/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Latin America's most famous street race, the São Silvestre, takes place on December 31, in São Paulo, and will have a record 15,000 runners this year. The race is 15 kilometers long and begins at 3:00 pm for the ladies, and 5:00 pm for the men.

Brazil has a number of good runners who are contenders. Marilson Gomes dos Santos, who finished second in 2002, is one of them. Another is Franck Caldeira, from Minas Gerais, who has been running very well recently. There is also Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, a two-time Pan-American games marathon winner, and, finally, Genilson Junio dos Santos, who has won the São Paulo marathon.

Among the Brazilian ladies are Maria Zeferina Baldaia, the 2001 champion, and Sirlene de Pinho, who has recently been winning long-distance races.

Among the foreign runners, the Kenyans will be very strong this year. The reigning champ, Robert Cheruiyot, is back to try to repeat his performance and it must be admitted that he is the favorite. This year he won the Boston marathon. Martin Lel, another Kenyan, the winner of the New York marathon, will also compete - he was third in the São Silvestre last year.

Kenyan women are also strong. They are led by Margaret Okayo, the second-place winner in 2001, and the winner of the 2003 New York marathon.

The São Silvestre has R$86,000 in prizes. (AB)