SANDI Menchi Abahan made her presence felt in the 2019 edition of the Pilipinas Akyathlon topping the ladies 10-kilometer (km) trail run in Itogon, Benguet during the weekend.
Elmer Retolado, however, stole the limelight after topping the 49km sky marathon of the annual National Skyrunning Championships presented by the Philippine Skyrunning Association.
With defending champion Elias Tabac out of sight, the Rodriguez, Rizal native Retolado clocked six hours, 28 minutes and 16 seconds in the marathon which started at the Binga Indigenous People’s Cultural Heritage site in Barangay Tinongdan passing through scenic routes going to Mt. Ugo.
Placing second is Larry Apolinario finishing the route at 6:35:55 while Jeff Aligan, last year’s first runner–up slid to third place with a time of 6:56:47.
In the distaff side, Jenny-vi Fontanilla is the new female champion after completing the course with a time of 7:56:54 as Cherryl Navarro (8:21:47) and Cecille Wael (8:53:22) completed the top three finisher.
Local Gretchen Felipe failed to barge into the podium placing sixth over-all in the women’s category with a time of 10:46:18.
In 25km mountain run June Cortez clocked 3:13:50 edging Marcelino Sana-oy who finished the race at 3:14:16 for the top podium while Kyle Antolin checked in at 3:23:29 to complete the top three finishers.
Marychielle Morales meanwhile bested other female runners with a time of 4:02:3 to top the distaff category even as Melanie Hingpit (4:07:21) and Patricia Paula Seriritan (4:21:53) placed second and third respectively.
Vinson Ramos easily finished the 10km trail run with a time 59 minutes and 49 seconds as Laurence Balanza came in second with 1:01:37 while Noel Rey Zonio crossed the finish line third with a time of 01:04:36.
Abahan was the fastest in the ladies contest completing the race at 1:10:40 while Sunshine Wanawan (1:31:37) and Alyzza Marie Santiago (1:43:21) placed second and third.
In the vertical kilometer race, Vinzons Ramos retained his title clocking in 53 minutes and 49 seconds as Marcelino Sana-oy managed to finish the race at 54:32 to salvage second place while Jayson Zonio finished third with a time of 55:45.
Trina Concepcion, meanwhile, topped the ladies side with a time of 1:26:00 besting Albien Sison who came in second with a time of 1:30:06 as Ma. Khatrina Visperas salvaged third place with a time of 1:36:26.
The kiddie akyathlon race saw Boz Lhurman Sanil topping the race with a time of 11 minutes and 24 seconds while Samuel Ayagan checked in second at 11:31 as Price Zyrack Apellanes finished third with a time of 12:28.
Hanah Mae Ramac lorded the distaff side with a time of 13:05 while Zianne Colay-an completed the race with a time of 13:18 for a decent second place finish while Roxette Agaton clocked 13:59 for third place.