DAGUPAN CITY -- Women from all walks of life participated in the Dagupan Pinay Idol Marathon Sunday morning, which turned out to be not really a race but a fun run.

Young runners also showed that they could compete with older runners after dominating the five-kilometer race.

The runners from Alaminos City ruled both the three-kilometer and five-kilometer categories.

Panagbenga 2009 blog

They also bagged the Biggest Number of Finishers in the three-kilometer event.

Police Officer 1 (PO1) Melanie Zarate received the special award "Circulan Timeless Beauty," while Geraldine Decano was "Lungcaire Tireless Beauty."

Winners in the three-kilometer race are Mae Ann Ranches (first place), Jesabel Anncheta (second), and Mary Grace Ragudos (third), all of Alaminos City.

Fourth place was Fatima Perado of Federico N. Ceralde Elementary School in Bonuan Binloc, this city, while Psychy Jane Malaque of Alaminos City took the fifth spot.

The Alaminos City athletes seized the medals in the five-kilometer event. Liza Angan-angan captured the first prize. She was followed by citymates Honelyn Julian (second), Marivic Casipit (third), and Emilyn Racraquin (fourth). Rachel Ann Nases of the University of Luzon placed fifth.

The Alaminos City contingent recorded the most number of runners who finished the race. Boquig Elementary School came second followed by Bacayao Sur Elementary School, both in Dagupan City.

The 90 policewomen of Pangasinan representing the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office all finished the race before the one-hour curfew ended, thus bagging the "Most Number of Finishers" in the five-kilometer event.

Dagupan City's Barangay Health Workers (BHW) came second while the city's Barangay Supply Point Officers placed third.

Among the marathoners were Dagupan City Councilor Farah Marie Decano and Pangasinan Board Member Kazel Celeste, Pangasinan Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president.

Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. congratulated Decano and the Kiwanis Club of Dagupena for the holding of the only all-women marathon in north of Luzon, which is its third year now.

It was held on March 8, which was observed worldwide as International Women's Day.

Aside from the elementary, high school, college students, and professionals, about 160 women from the different barangays in Dagupan City ran and finished the race. They are members of the city's BHW, BSPO, Kalipi, and Barangay Nutrition Service Officers (BNSO).

Meanwhile, event chairman Margie Ursua thanked the Dagupan City Schools Division for the technical officials, as well as, the Deltacom-Dagupan chapter, Philippine National Red Cross-Pangasinan Chapter and the city's Public Order and Safety Office for the security and safety of the runners during the marathon. (LCMY/Sunnex)