REXEL Aguirre and Maria Jessa Sepe clinched the 80K titles in the just-concluded The Punisher 50 held in an out-and-back course from the Marex Beach Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal.
Aguirre, of Panabo City, clocked a total of 13 hours, 36 minutes and 48 seconds to rule the men's event over Ace Joseph de Guzman of Davao City and Meljohn Tezon of Quezon City who finished second and third, respectively.
De Guzman registered 14:45:37 while Tezon timed 15:05:37.
Sepe of Toledo, for her part, checked in at 15:20:48 to race past rival Julie Mae Marquez (17:29:17) of Ilocos.
Organizers said there were a total of 28 starters but there were only 13 finishers in the race.
In the 50K, Ian Giangan (7:16:18) of Igacos and Julieann Morales (8:18:34) of Davao City topped the event while Panabo City's Buddy Lloyd Yparraguirre (1:52:31) and Mariel Cantila (2:30:56) of Davao City annexed the 25K crowns.
This early, organizers have announced the fifth Edition of the Mountain-Trail Ultra in Mindanao, also known as the Punisher 50, set on November 30, 2019. The same three categories will be entered - 80K, 50K and 25.
"Trail routes are engineered to capture the most amazing scenic view of this island. Mountains, trailporn, peaks, ridges, rocks, cliffs, beaches, blue waters, waterfalls, and spring, all in one race -The Punisher 50!," Vertical to Sky Mountain Race posted on its Facebook.
Registration, however, will open on May 6 and end on October 25 in 2019.