Successful race
As I mentioned in an earlier column, The Freeman general manager Boy Mendoza and pretty marketing manager Tina Poblador, a Toni Gonzaga dead ringer (mas maganda lang si Tina) were apprehensive when I proposed a 10-kilometer race to mark The Freeman's 86th anniversary. I assured Boy and Tina that as long as I have the logistics, I could organize a race in a week's time. I even lost almost a week as I have to be in Manila to attend the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHILSOC) meetings. PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez wants me to assist triathlon and the marathon events during the SEA Games in November. But having organized over 80 running events, I know I could swing this one too. So the stage was set and The Freeman 86th Anniversary 10-K Run was kicked off last Sunday. Of course it was a howling success with over 500 runners pounding the streets of the Cebu Business Park. As usual Timex Running Club headed by It Del Rosario and Alfred Signe accounted for the biggest delegation of 130 runners.
Always lurking in the shadows of more prominent runners in Mendel Lopez, Cebu Mountain Trail Run and DYAB 10K Run champion and Bohol's Joseph Penales, last year's Midnight Run champ, Rolando Montebon of University of Cebu served notice that he's the new kid in the block. Montebon took control of the race in the 5-kilometer mark and never looked back as he annexed his first major crown in 32 minutes and 16 seconds. Penales wound up second in 32:55 while Adonis Singson pocketed third in 33:17. During the Scoop Forum at the Baseline Restaurant last Thursday, I predicted that Christy Sevilleno, Liezel Gitaruelas and Joeyry Lee will win the first three places in that order. Well, I'm no prophet but Christy, Liezel and Joeyry arrived at the finish line just as I said. Sevilleno clocked 37:58 to place first while Gitaruelas and Lee settled for second and third in 38:37 and 40:16 respectively. In the 3K Division for Freeman employees, assistant sports editor Raffy Alas made it a walk in the Cebu Business Park with Dino Tantan and Ulyses Esles pocketing second and third places respectively. Boy, Tina and yours truly awarded the cash prizes, trophies, medals, certificates and singlets. I'll be thanking the sponsors and the coordinating agencies in my next column.