Veteran runner proposes separate category instead of banning foreigners

HAVING a separate category for the foreign runners would be a good alternate solution instead of banning them outright.

This, according to local runner Adonis Singson, would still allow them to join the race and avail of the prize instead of the total ban, which sends them home without getting anything.

The running policy that bans foreign runners has already upset Cebu-based Kenyan runner Joshphat Kiptanui.

Kiptanui, who has transferred to Cebu, called the move “discriminatory” and appealed for organizers to drop it.

He added that a separate category for foreign and local runners will be a win-win situation for both of them.

“We are okay with foreigners joining local runs, just as long as they will be in a separate category so they can also win prizes. If they mix them with us, we will have a hard time because we can hardly catch up with them,” Singson said in Cebuano.

Although he defeated the Kenyans thrice already, he still admits that these foreign runners are superior to them.

“They are really fast even if they don’t practice like us. We can only beat the Kenyans if they are out of condition or they are injured,”he said.

Singson also said that he cannot maximize his performance because his training schedules hamper his main source of income, which is selling ice cream bars.

Other job

“They don’t have a job and they can really concentrate on practice. As for me, I have to sell ice cream bars because if I don’t, my family will have nothing to spend for our daily consumption,” he said.

Meanwhile, another male runner who asked not to be named said that the policy has good intentions, especially that it only covers fun runs and not the major runs in the city.

“I am okay with that policty because it is not implemneted all the time. Not all fun runs have that policy. I think it is not good that they (foreigners) will be allowed to compete all the time,” he said. “The best way, I think, is to limit the number of competitive foreign runners and they may only join the longer divisions.”

The runner said he was able to outpace a Kenyan but he still admitted that these Kenyans are natural runners and possess a greater endurance.

“But not all Kenyans are really fast,” he said. “Matimingan pud makatupong mi.”