remaining leader Bob Kempainen and defied Kempainen's attempts to shake him off – following his zig-zag movements across the road. Finally taking the lead in the final stages, Vera enjoyed a tailwind and won the race in 2:11:39 (twenty seconds ahead of the other runners). Kempainen later commented: "I kept trying to get him out front to take the lead, but I couldn't very well turn around and ask him to do it...I guess he ran it smart". He also went on to win at the Chuncheon Marathon that year. He enjoyed success over the 20 km distance, winning at the Ogden Newspapers 20K in 1995 and the following year. Vera's final Olympic appearance was at the 1996 Atlanta Games and he was ranked 22nd in the men's Olympic marathon race. He won the Beppu-Ōita Marathon in 1997 with a time of 2:12:00. International competitions References External links 1965 births Living people People from Cuenca, Ecuador Ecuadorian male long-distance runners Ecuadorian male marathon runners Ecuadorian male steeplechase runners Olympic athletes of Ecuador Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics Pan American Games silver medalists for Ecuador Pan American Games medalists in athletics (track and field) Athletes (track and field) at the 1987 Pan American Games Athletes (track and field) at the 1995 Pan American Games World Athletics Championships athletes for Ecuador South American Games gold medalists for Ecuador South American Games silver medalists for Ecuador South American Games medalists in athletics Competitors at the 1986 South American Games Competitors at the 1986 Goodwill Games Medalists at the 1987 Pan American Games