Sunday, January 20, 2008 Davao City bet rules Sinulog half marathon By Norvie S. Misa Sun.Star Correspondent
A RUNNER from Davao City set a national record after topping the Mizuno-Shell Sinulog Half Marathon yesterday at the Asiatown IT Park, while Cebu’s marathon queen ruled the women’s division.
Elmer Bartolo, 24, dominated the 21K men’s division after crossing the finish line at one hour, 10 minutes and 20.65 seconds to bag the P20,000 prize after a close race with second finisher Manila-based runner Jujet De Asis.
De Asis, who is from Sultan Kudarat, finished the race at 1:11:10.95 to take home P12, 000.
Cebu’s Eugene Del Poso prevented a podium shutout for the local runners as he finished third with 1:11:15.82 to earn P8,000.
Bartolo, who is now the record holder of the 21K half marathon as the race is sanctioned by the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association, said it was a neck-to-neck race between him and De Asis at the early stages before he increased his pace in the final 10 kilometers.
Bartolo, a 21K and 42K finisher in Davao races, said he just arrived here last Friday after a three-day voyage from Davao City.
“I thank God for giving me the strength,” Bartolo said and then telling the Cebuano runners, “Just keep on practicing.”
Bartolo, who won the Dumaguete qualifier and finished 17th at the Milo Marathon finals in Manila last year, runs 15 kilometers every morning and works out in the afternoon six days a week.
On the other hand, Del Poso, who won the two runs last December, said his lack of preparation did him in.
“Kuwang lang gyud sa training,” he said.
Record
Meanwhile, multi-awarded runner Leiszl Geteruelas also set the record and took the P15,000 top purse in the women’s 21K after beating 18-year-old Mary Jane Beboso of Lapu-Lapu City.
The 33-year-old Geteruelas, who is an aerobics instructor, said she was not expecting the win because of the out-of-town runners and did not expect she would finish at 1:28.05.21. The winner expected to run in an hour and a half.
She said that they were just pacing Beboso in the race and was tailing her early until she left her at the bridge on the way to Country Mall.
“I am very happy with this win since this is my first time to have a record here in Cebu, walay kapoy ang daog pero kapoy ang training”, said Geteruelas.
Beboso, with 1:28:15.53 took P10,000.
“I always finish second behind Leiszl because she is already a veteran,” she said.
Third finisher Madelyn Carter, who got P5,000 for finishing at 1:32:32.67 said this is her best record, slashing some seven minutes off her previous best.
“I can’t believe that I finished third because I was suffering from migraine last night, and I just prayed this morning to just finish the race.”
Meanwhile, 23-year-old Katie Fischer from Wisconsin, took the fourth spot with 1:35:07.37.
Fischer, who has stayed in Lapu-Lapu City since October last year for a business trip and who is also working at Big Foot Entertainment, said she was just jogging last Friday when a man on a bike informed her of the race.
Before coming here Fischer said she already had raced two full marathons in Wisconsin.
Other winners in the men’s division were Jerson Agravante and Reney Desuyo at fourth and fifth places, respectively. Others in the top 10 were Mendel Lopez, Dimesion Belmonte, Ramil Lumindas, Adonis Singson and Revodam Aranas.
The top 10 in the women’s division were Merlita Arias (5th), Mircelle Gilbuena (6th), Irish Barquesa (7th), Emily Chiongbian (8th), 9th Diane Cañeda and 10th Madelyn Loloy.
Joel Del Poso , Rogelio Abay-Abay and Reiz Enriquez took the top three places, respectively, in the men’s 5K.
In the distaff side, Vlessica Jagna topped her division, while Sheena Gacayan and Joery Lee finished second and third.
