Monday, September 15, 2008

Philippine Milo Marathon

Runners from Cebu dominated the Bohol qualifying race of the 32nd National Milo Marathon on Sunday with John Philip Duenas and Christy Sevilleno showing up the defending champions.

Duenas, a physical education student at Southwestern University, topped the men's 21K race in onehour, 16 minutes and 11 seconds even as five-time Cebu leg winner Sevilleno upset defending champion Merlita Arias in the distaff side.

Duenas trailed last year's Bohol men's champion Riez Enriquez in the first half of the race before grabbing the lead for good at the turnaround point.

He built as much as a 150-meter lead, then bucked muscle cramps that slowed him down with still 7 km to go.
Enriquez, a varsity runner from University of Southern Philippines Foundation in Cebu City, settled for second in 1:16:56 while Leyte's Bonifacio Monjas finished thirdin 1:18:09.

In the women's race, Sevilleno overtook Arias 2 km before the finish line to win in 1:43:51.
Arias came in second in 1:46;01 followed by Sharon Vega, also of Cebu City, who timed 1:48:28.
After placing 10th in the Mt. Kinabalu Climbathon last month, Arias said will concentrate on flat road racing for the Milo finals and the Arafura Games.

Sevilleno, who won in Cebu from 2002 to 2006, gave birth in February last year and failed to join the Milo races.
The top three runners in both divisions will advance to the national finals on Nov. 30 in Metro Manila.

The top three finishers in the 5K fun run were Dario Dalusa (18:20), Wendel Jamilla (18:24) and Joey Coquilla (18:31) in the men's division and Nora Bentillo (22:27), Josephine Malig-on (23:15) and Merry Jean Berdos (23:45) in the women's side.

The winners in the 3K race for kids were Jodie Cahatian and Lanie Mantabute in the6-9 age category and Kenneth Paul Bentalla and Loverly Magallano in the 10-12 group.

The country's biggest and longest-running foot race held in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel-Manila, Adidas and Department of Tourism will resume in San Fernando City, La Union today.

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