REXEL Aguirre of Team Tadeco raced past first day leader Jonathan Pido of Philippine National Police (PNP) 11 as of Day 2 past noon Wednesday, August 7, in the ongoing 34th Kadayawan Sports Festival DRU520 Davao Region Ultramarathon that kicked off 9 a.m. at the Mati City Hall grounds Monday.
Race director Roel Amabao-Ano, in a Facebook interview with SunStar Davao Wednesday, said Aguirre snatched the lead from Pido while in Panabo City.
As of 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, he said Aguirre was way ahead in Puan while Pido was trailing in Buhangin, Davao City. Dabawenya Olive Firmeza of Team PhilHealth reached Lasang, Davao City.
“Tonight (August 7) going Digos City. Ugma pa Malita, Davao Occidental (They are heading towards Malita, Davao Occidental tomorrow, August 8),” Ano said, adding that Aguirre and Pido target to reach the finish line at People’s Park in Davao City on Friday evening, August 9.
He said a total of 12 individual entries, 10 males and two females, joined the second longest run in the country. The longest running event so far was the recent 580K from Pagudpud to Manila.
Participants had to finish within the cutoff time of 144 hours in the five-day competition. They have to at least run a minimum of 87 kilometers a day, he said.
“Kung asa maabtan ug katologon, didto sila matulog sa daplin sa dalan, 10m away from the route. Tapos maligo asa makaagi ug naa pwede mahangyoan (When they get sleepy, they sleep by the roadside, 10 meters from the route. They take a bath wherever they can request),” the veteran coach from Calinan said.
Trailing behind Aguirre, Pido and Firmeza after the second day were Jay Bustamante Team Titan Davao, Irene Tan of Team Gensan Elite Runners, Properto Tiston, Niel Butron, Benjamin Neuva, Don Amoro, Arnel Andilab, Protacio Casildo, Jr. and Rodrigo Lanorias, Sr.
In the team relay event, PNP 11 has overtaken Panabo Running Club for the lead.
DRU520 is presented by the City Government of Davao through the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor’s Office. (MLSA)