Friday, March 30, 2007 Davao bets to compete in BIMP-Eaga marathon By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
FOUR Davao City runners, one from Bukidnon and one from Tagum City, will represent Mindanao in the first-ever BIMP-Eaga Marathon kicking off at 6 a.m. on Sunday in an out-and-back course from Rizal Park.
Team Mindanao is composed of University of Mindanao's Orlan Leonor, Vivian Avergonzado and Jeralyn Matunhay, Jose Maria College's Zeny Labrado, UM-Tagum's Junel Boncit and Bukidnon's Hansel Indapan.
"Our Mindanao runners will compete in the 10K premier race against four bets from Sarawak, four bets from Brunei Darussalam, two from Indonesia and two from Sabah. There are 18 participants in the premeir race for 18 to 23 years old alone. This category is exclusive for the BIMP-Eaga participants," Noli Tacay, chief of staff of Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Leon "Binggoy" Montemayor said.
Tacay, who guested in Thursday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn with Montemayor, said interested participants may join the 10K open race for 24 years old and above and the 5K fun run that is open for all ages.
Montemayor said there will also be a BIMP-Eaga sports council meeting that will start on Saturday at the Grand Regal Hotel.
"We are very thankful to Chairman Butch Ramirez for this opportunity to hold the BIMP marathon in Davao and for the funding he gave to support the event," Montemayor said.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, Panabo Mayor Rey Gavina and Medco's Virgilio Leyritana are also backing the event along with other corporate sponsors.
"The BIMP Eaga sports council, during our last meeting in Makassar, agreed to hold the marathon in every year where there is no BIMP Eaga Games, which is a biennial meet," Montemayor said.
Huge cash prizes and attractive trophies will be given away to the top five finishers in each category with the premier race male champion going home with P15,000, while the female titlist will get P10,000.
