Record books await winners of Mizuno-Shell 21k race

Inclusion in the Philippine record books awaits the winners of the Mizuno-Shell Sinulog 21k Half Marathon.

This was the assurance of Joey Santos, a technical staff from the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA), during the SCOOP forum hosted by Bobby Inferio at the Baseline Restaurant yesterday.

Santos is in town to supervise the race, the first half marathon in Cebu that has the blessings of PATAFA.

He explained that there is no existing record in half maration in the country; therefore, the times of the winners in Cebu will be first official times for the distance. He further said there were 20k races before but none in the 21k.

Philippine’s best in 20k is 1:02.30, set by Barcelona Olympian Herman Suizo.

The Mizuno-Shell Sinulog 21k Half Marathon kicks off tomorrow at Asiatown IT Park. As of this writing, more than 800 runners have registered in the event, which also features a 5k run.

Some of the region’s topnotch runners have signed up for the event, including Rene Desuyo, second placer in last year’s Sinulog marathon and a top ten finisher in last year’s Milo Marathon. Local runners like the Delposo brothers, Eugene and Joel, Mendel Lopez, Riez Enriquez and Adonis Singson, are expected to crowd Desuyo for the title.

Liezl Getaruelas, with a personal best of 1:24.00, leads the women’s field. She will be contending with Marlita Arias, Madeline Carter, Mary Jane Beboso, Mary Rose Arman and Joeyry Lee and some visiting runners.

Aside from possible inclusion in the record books, runners will also gun for cash prizes.

The champion in the men’s division will go home with P20,000, the second placer gets P12,000, third garners P8,000, fourth placer gets P5,000 while the fifth placer gains P3,000. The sixth to tenth placers will receive P1,000 each.

In the women’s division, the champion will receive P15,000, the second placer bags P10,000, third placer pockets P5,000, the fourth placer gets P3,000 and the fifth placer receives P2,000. The sixth to tenth finishers will get P300 each.

The champions in the both the men and women divisions in the 5k run will receive P3,000, the second placers P2,000, third placers get P1,000, fourth placers bag P700, fifth placers P500 and the sixth to tenth placers get P300 each.

Aside from Mizuno and Shell, the other sponsors of the event are Mazda, Burlington, Alcordo Advertising, Holiday Gym and Spa, Infinity Colors, Adrenaline X.

The media partners are The FREEMAN, Sun Star, Cebu Daily News, Y101 and RCTV36 are supporting the event.

Registration fee is P250 for the 21k, P150 for the 5k, inclusive of running singlets and race number. Students get a discounted fee of P95 for both 21k and 5k events.

Deadline for registration is at 5:00 pm today. Interested runners may register at the Cebu City Sports Center, Mizuno shops in the north wing of SM and Banilad Town Center, Holiday Gym and Spa and Sug-angan Restaurant at J. Lorente St.

For inquiries, one may contact Jesse Taborada at 254-48096 and Meyrick Jacalan at 232-8518 to 19. —RBO