ULTRAMARATHON runner Julius Sermona and former national marathon queen Christabel Martes is headed to the national finals after topping the Baguio leg of the 28th National Milo Marathon during the weekend.
Sermona ruled the 21-kilometer with a time of 1:14:42 eclipsing UC student Cesar Castañeto who crossed five seconds behind with 1:14:47 while another local Castro Cudli finished with 1:23:40.
Cudli, who ranked third, unluckily failed to make the 1:15:00 qualifying time for the 42K national marathon slated this December in Manila.
Martes defended her Baguio leg title in the distaff side for the third straight time since 2011 clocking in 1:26:48 as rising star Sandy Menchi Abahan came in second place after reaching the finish line with 1:34:23 together with colleague Lua Angella Limbo crossing in for third place with 1:46:41.
"Masaya ako to be able to qualify once more sa nationals, not to mention na ako ulit ang top finisher sa Baguio leg and with that sobrang pasalamat ko," Martes said.
Martes previously held the national champion in the 42K female in 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2008.
Top finishers in the male 10-kilometer contest include Arnold Galap (33:55), Erwin Bong Generalao (34:59), and Jay Lomyog (35:47) while former UB Cardinal Jessa Mangsat (39:19), Cherry Doronilla (46:28), and Marychiel Morales (48:11) completed the top three in the distaff side.
Kevin Capangpangan, Elbren Neri, and Johan Caldo were the best in the 5K male, while Divina Kitongan, Sisa Mae Caronongan, and Kaizelle Vergara outdone the female division.
Fastest runners in the 3K event include Eduard Josh Buenavista, Darren Bryle Lacaden, and Kyle Castañeto while Felicity Alfonso, Mary Grace Zamudio, and Christine Ann Taruc was the top three in the girls side.
Some 2,000 foot racers were present during the event which started in Harrison Road and finished at Lake Drive in Burnham Park.
Top male and female finishers in the 21-kilometer event will be joining other leg qualifiers in an all-expense paid trip in the national finals slated December 7 this year at the SM Mall of Asia.
The national champions will get chance to represent the country in the upcoming 2015 Tokyo Marathon February next year.