National masters trackfest

The clamor for the revival of the National Masters Track and Field Championship is mounting. I recently got a call from Asia’s former fastest woman Mona Sulaiman, my teammate in several battles in the Masters Athletics, that Luzon teams including Ilocos and Baguio have sent inquiries. The last time we had a National Masters competition was three years ago when I organized the trackfest here in Cebu. If plans do not misfire, I intend to organize the championship in the summer of next year.

During my trip to Iloilo one-legged triathlete Rudy Fernandez said Iloilo’s team would be one of the contenders with former national marathon record holder Herman Suizo on the comeback trail. Of course, Manila will the team to be beat with the likes of Elma Muros, Isidro Del Prado, Linda Lavendia, Romeo Montanez and Sulaiman heading the list. In the Cebu trackfest, the Philippine Army emerged champion, barely escaping the upset axe from the Cebu City team. The army was bannered by veteran walkathoners Saturnino Salazar, Manny Oyao and Fredo Villarta while being backed by two-time PAL Manila Marathon champion Rey Antoque. PSC chair Butch Ramirez promised to support the event anew. The track competition could be a qualifying event for the selection of the national team to next year’s Asian Masters Track and Field Championship in Tokyo, Japan.

More Support For Move 5k

The M.O.V.E. 5K Run stated on December 2 at the Cebu Provincial Capitol, continue to get a boost with more sponsors joining the race. The latest supporters of the run are Pharma 3 Company, Eli Lilly, Patriot and Southwestern University. Making the race more prestigious is the presence of Cebu’s top long distance runners headed by Leszl Getaruelas, Mary Rose Arman, Pearl Beboso, Joeyry Lee, Joel Delposo, Mendel Lopez, Eugene Delposo and Reiz Enriquez. Also confirming their participation is Mt. Kota Kinabalu Climbathon veteran Francis Costgrave of Ireland, Councilor Ed Labella, former councilor Maning Legaspi and provincial administrator Ed Habin. Also promising to show up is Y101’s Jud Bacalso who will try to complete his first-ever 5K run. Before the start of the race, a 10-minute aerobics warm-up will be conducted by Citigym under Anne Manubag, to the tune of  “Move It”, the music from the animated movie “Madagascar”. Registration is now on going at the PSC Office at the Cebu City Sports Center and at Dr. Renald Ramiro’s Clinic at the Cebu Doctors University Hospital along Osmeña Boulevard.