Benguet skyrunner is Asia’s third best

FOLLOWING his impressive 15th place in the 2012 Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon, 17-year-old Josiah Ballagan is now ranked as the third best skyrunner in Asia.

Ballagan was the top runner in 18-29 years old division of the 2012 edition of the Sky running event held in Itogon and was able to finish the course with a time of four hours and 5.40 minutes and was fifth overall.

With his fifth place finish, Ballagan was able to secure a free trip to Malaysia where he competed with some of the world’s best sky runners finishing the grueling Kinabalu championship with a time of 2 hours, 38 minutes and 23 seconds covering 23 kilometers.

“Ballagan was not supposed to join the Malaysia race but since the top Filipino had other commitments, Josiah was given a chance to compete and it was a good showing,” said Phil. Skyrunning Association former president Nina Dacanay.

The Kabayan teener, according to Dacanay, has accumulated points after having competed in Itogon’s skyrunning and the Kinabalu race.

Ballagan is expected to return in the country’s second international Sky Race, which is a high-altitude mountain trail running event covering 35.4-km out-and-back race, starting from the Barangay Hall of Tinongdan in the Municipality of Itogon, Province of Benguet set February 9.

“The skyrunning event we had last year opened other opportunities, especially to our local runners and we hope to see more local talents for this year,” added Dacanay.

Registration Fee for the skyrunning event will be at P1,900 for Philippine residents until January 15 while late registrants will be charged P2,400 until February 8.

For foreign runners, registrants will be charged $60 payable in Baguio on February 8 during kit claim/race briefing.

Registration closes at 7:30 p.m. on February 8 and there will be no on-site registration on February 9, 2013, according to race organizers.

Payment by local residents can be made by depositing the fee to BPI current account number 3191-0473-02 of Philippine Skyrunning Association, Inc. Email scanned deposit slip (with your name) to psa@philskyrunning.com.