Gitaruelas places fourth in Mt. Kinabalu climbathon

Cebu’s road running queen Leszl Lumindas-Gitaruelas emerged as the best placed Philippine entry in the 22nd Mt. Kinabalu International Climbathon in Sabah, Malaysia.

Gitaruelas finished fourth in the women’s open with the time of three hours, 49 minutes and 35 seconds.

Fellow Cebuana Merlita Arias wound up ninth anew with a 4:21:18 clocking, while Davao’s Mona Liza Ambasa Eco landed at 13th place in 4:38:34.

The three members of the Philippine Sky Runners team led by Lumindas actually overshadowed the first two Pinays to summit the Mt.Everest in Carina Dayondon and Janet Belarmino, who placed 16th and 17th with the time of 4:50.03 and 5:04.22, respectively.

Another Pinay, Merlie Edullantes, came out 18th, while the fourth member of the PSR Maria Estela Diaz finished 26th. – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol