Friday, August 22, 2008 RP sends largest team to Mt. Kinabalu Climbathon
CLOSE to P200,000 is being dangled for whoever crosses the finish line first in the 22nd Mt. Kinabalu International Climbathon tomorrow in Malaysia.
The Philippines is the most celebrated country in the climbathon this year after having sent the most number of participants for the two-day race.
The Philippines registered 38 racers, including Cebuanas Leazl Gitaruelas and Merlita Arias.
Some 368 runners have registered for the event with 123 foreigners and the Filipinos make up the bulk of the foreign participants.
Causing the uproar, however, is the participation of Carina Dayondon and Janet Belarmino, who are the first Filipino and Southeast Asian women to have conquered Mt. Everest.
“The Philippines registered the biggest team from a foreign country. This year’s race will be interesting as we have quite a number of strong and new runners participating in our race in particular for the Women’s Open category in Carina Dayondon and Janet Belarmino, the first Filipinas and first South East Asian women to have conquered Mt. Everest,” said event organizing secretary Zachary Mobijohn in a press statement.
Although the Everest summitters are being watched, Cebuana sky runner Arias is also considered among the toughest contenders among the other Filipino women.
Arias has failed several times to breach the Top 3 but has upped her game this year in her desire to at least barge into the Top 3 in the women’s division.
In 2006, Arias finished sixth and aimed but missed for a better finish in 2007, coming up only at ninth place—due to exhaustion, lack of training.
Last year, Malaysian media also branded her as the possible winner. (MCB)
