HAD he not made an emergency stop due to call of nature, Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) trackster Arlan Arbois Jr. would have at least made it to the top three in men's 42K local category of the 42nd National Milo Marathon National Finals held in Tarlac City Sunday, January 19. He settled for fifth place instead. The 23-year-old Arbois, who topped the men's 21K qualifying leg held on October 20, 2019 in Davao City, checked in at two hours, 35 minutes and 26 seconds. Jerald Zabala, who was runner-up in the 41st edition of the Milo run, clinched the title with 2:31:16, while Richard Salano (2:31:17) placed second, Jeson Agravante (2:31:55) third and Florendo Lapiz (2:35:02) fourth. Former Davao City standouts Joselito Dugos (2:38:03) and 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games marathoner Anthony Nerza (2:42:08) finished ninth and 10th, respectively. Dugos, born in Tupi, South Cotabato, said, "Sabay na unta ko sa leading kaso naabtan kug kalibangun pag turning point namo mao to nag CR pako. Top three jud unta akung target (I was among the leaders but I badly needed to relieve myself at the turning point so I was delayed. I really aimed a top three finish)." Placing fifth, after all what happened, even came as a surprise for him. He, however, accepted his fate. "Gina-isip nako Ma'am na dili lang masayang akung pag-prepare ug sa pag sacrifice, sa pag training nako, din kaso mao to ang natabo. Bisag fifth lang ko, mao ra may gihatag ni Lord sa akoa (While running I really thought that my training and sacrifice won't be put to waste but the unfortunate thing happened. This was what the Lord gave me)," he told SunStar Davao in a Facebook Messenger chat Monday, January 20. Fourth year Criminology student Arbois, the second of four children of Arlan Arbois Sr., who tills their corn and vegetable farm in Tupi, South Cotabato, and Genalyn, who has a small sari-sari store at home, was also a Milo 21K champion in the 2018 General Santos City leg. In the distaff side, 30th SEA Games women's marathon champion Christine Hallasgo of Bukidnon dethrones perennial Milo marathon queen Mary Joy Tabal of Cebu City.