"He was so happy. He was really happy that he finished," said Balgemino.
While Leobardo declined interviews, his mother, Rosio Berumen, did release a statement.
“We are very proud of Leobardo Dorado," she saod. "It’s his second marathon, and we are very appreciative of the people that helped him."
Although he needed help at the end, the teen's determination and resilience has Balgemino thinking about participating in next year's marathon. He also had encouragement and praise for the young runner's efforts.
"If you could hear me, I'll say, 'Good job. I'm proud of you, and you're my inspiration," said Balgemino.