Quick Facts
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Biography
Ruben Pascal Sança (born December 13, 1986) is a Cape Verdean long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon. He attended and ran for the University of Massachusetts Lowell, after which he began training under Gary Gardner as a member of the Whirlaway Racing Team. Sança is the current Cape Verdean record-holder at 3,000 m indoors at 8:07.50, the 5000 m indoors at 13:56.46, the 5000 m outdoors at 14:05.39, road 5 km at 14:11 and the marathon at 2:18:47. He was one of three members of the 2012 Cape Verdean Olympic team.
Running career
At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he competed in the men's 5000 metres, finishing 40th overall in Round 1, failing to qualify for the final. Soon after the London Olympics, he underwent knee surgery to remove a benign tumor in his right knee, which had affected him throughout the Olympics. He returned to the marathon on April 21, 2014, finishing in 21st place with a time of 2:19:05 at the 2014 Boston Marathon.
Major competition record
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing  Cape Verde | ||||||
| 2009 | Lusophony Games | Lisbon, Portugal | 6th | 1500 m | 3:55.10 | |
| 2011 | New Bedford Half Marathon | New Bedford, United States | 1st | Half Marathon | 1:05:24 | |
| 2011 | Rotterdam Marathon | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 17th | Marathon | 2:18:47 | |
| 2011 | World Championship | Daegu, South Korea | 48th | Marathon | 2:34:40 | |
| 2011 | Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon | Las Vegas, United States | 16th | Half Marathon | 1:07:14 | |
| 2012 | Olympic Games | London, England | 40th | 5000 m | 14:35.19 | |
| 2014 | Lusophony Games | Goa, India | 1st | 5000 m | 14:28.48 | |
| 2014 | New Bedford Half Marathon | New Bedford, United States | 1st | Half Marathon | 1:05:52 | |
| 2014 | Boston Marathon | Boston, United States | 20th | Marathon | 2:19:05 | |
| 2014 | Twin Cities Marathon | Minneapolis, United States | DNF | Marathon | Injury at 25 km | |
| 2014 | Macau Half Marathon | Macau, China | 2nd | Half Marathon | 1:08:19 | |
| 2015 | Boston Marathon | Boston, United States | 24th | Marathon | 2:21:58 | |
| 2015 | BAA Half Marathon | Boston, United States | 8th | Half Marathon | 1:09:51 | |
| 2015 | Valencia Marathon | Valencia, Spain | DNF | Marathon | Injury at 30 km | |
| 2016 | Jacksonville Half Marathon | Jacksonville, United States | 37th | Half Marathon | 1:06:25 | |
| 2016 | London Marathon | London, England | 32nd | Marathon | 2:21:35 | |
| 2016 | Great North Run | South Shields, England | 12th | Half Marathon | 1:05:53 | |
| 2016 | Macau Half Marathon | Macau, China | 3rd | Half Marathon | 1:08:42 | |
| 2017 | New Bedford Half Marathon | New Bedford, United States | 2nd | Half Marathon | 1:06:54 | |
| 2017 | Bangkok Midnight Marathon | Bangkok, Thailand | 3rd | Marathon | 2:53:17 | |
| 2017 | Baystate Marathon | Lowell, United States | 2nd | Marathon | 2:24:15 | |
| 2018 | New Bedford Half Marathon | New Bedford, United States | 4th | Half Marathon | 1:07:43 | |
| 2018 | O'Djo D'Agua Half Marathon | Santa Maria, Cape Verde | 1st | Half Marathon | 1:10:52 | |
| 2018 | Boston Marathon | Boston, United States | DNF | Marathon | Hypothermia at 30 km | |
| 2018 | Berlin Marathon | Berlin, Germany | 29th | Marathon | 2:21:01 | |
Personal bests
| Distance | Time (min) | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 m | 3:49.17 | 5 May 2012 | Waltham |
| Mile run (indoors) | 4:07.37 | 12 February 2009 | Boston |
| 3000 m (indoors) | 8:07.50 (NR) | 29 January 2011 | Boston |
| 5000 m | 14:05.39 (NR) | 16 April 2012 | Walnut |
| 5000 m (indoors) | 13:56.46 (NR) | 30 January 2010 | Boston |
| 5 km (road) | 14:11 (NR) | 25 February 2010 | Armagh |
| 10 km (road) | 29:54 | 25 August 2013 | Brockton |
| Half Marathon | 1:05:24 | 20 March 2011 | New Bedford |
| Marathon | 2:18:47 (NR) | 10 April 2011 | Rotterdam |
Video
- Interview: Ruben Sanca: UMass Lowell - World Class Runner
- Training: Emily Maye // Tracksmith: Ruben Sanca
- Hall of Fame: UMass Lowell: Hall of Fame Speech