Friday, August 01, 2008 Milo marathon attracts 24,000 runners
ANOTHER Milo Marathon a number record for Cebu.
This after 24,270 runners registered for this year’s run at the Cebu City Sports Center, 4,120 more than last year’s mark.
“We had to refuse some late registrants because we could no longer accommodate late entries,” said race coordinator Ricky Ballesteros during the Scoop Cebu forum yesterday at Baseline Restaurant.
This Sunday’s race is simultaneous with the Manila, Tarlac and Davao City regional races.
A total of 21,770 runners will vie in the 5-kilometer Fun Run, 2,000 in the 3-K Kiddie race and some 500 for the 21K half marathon race.
Ballesteros said the Cebu race is the biggest, while Manila is second with 20,000.
Of the 500 21K runners, three runners in the men’s and women’s divisions, will be given a chance to compete in the National Finals which will be held on Nov. 30 in Manila.
Milo will shoulder their expenses for the Manila trip.
Aside from the chance to compete against the other regional winners, the top three winners in both Division of the 21K runs will get P10,000, P6,000 and P4,000 respectively, while the fourth until the 10th placers will also receive cash prizes.
In the absence of last year’s winner Mendel Lopez in the Men’s Division, former University of Cebu runner Rogelio Reli of the Philippine Army will be the favorite to win the men’s title.
Reli currently holds a 1:06 mark in 21K races, seven minutes better than Lopez’s record last year.
Aside from the race proper there will be cheerdance competition for the elementary, secondary and collegiate teams. (RCM)
