Wheels of justice

Lawyers, judges, court employees, law students, took time out from their stressful jobs and joined the running communities in last Sunday’s IBP Fun, Fun Run held at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Compound. IBP President (Province) Ramsay Quijano whose father is still lying in state at a funeral parlor, fired the starter’s gun to send off the runners. The run signaled week-long activities to mark the IBP Anniversary. Despite the staging of another race, Cebu’s top runners 2009 Standard Chartered HongKong Marathon (21K) third finisher Mendel Lopez, SWU’s Philip Dueñas, RP Training Pool’s Ben Alejandro, Milo Marathon Dumaguete Leg champion Miscelle Gilbuena, Joel Delposo Lohriz Echavez and former Milo Marathon national champion Stella Mamac -Diaz, all showed up. Mendel, who now trains with my protégé Rey Vence a six-time Milo champion, made it a walk in the park, as he breezed to the finish line with identical clocking as Alejandro. Mendel timed 17:04:22 while Alejandro clocked 17:04:23. Dueñas salvaged third.

Conspiracy?

Some observers asked me if Mendel and Alejandro broke the spirit of competition when they arrived together. In fact they were holding hands as they crossed the finish line. Well, since this was only a fun run with no big money at stake, Mendel and Alejandro considered the race as a workout for the big time marathons. In some Manila races, members of the National Team call it “One Money”. For example if the prizes for the first three finishers are P10,000, P8,000 and P5,000 respectively, that’s P23,000 divided by three equally. This is what you may call game fixing in basketball or boxing. But there’s no clear guideline in road racing. In more serious races, these violators could get sanctions. But as I said it was only a fun run. In the 5K female division, Mamac-Diaz was just too experienced for Gilbuena as she won in 21:28 to Gilbuena’s 21:47 Lorhiz Echavez pocketed third in 25:02. In the 3K open men’s division, Jerry Ycong ruled supreme in 11:07 to upset Joel Delposo who wound up second, Jobert Carolino was third in 11:21. In the 3K female open, Mary Joy Tabal made sure she doesn’t collapse at the finish line as she hit the tape in 14:43.

Lawyers Run Too

Who said lawyers and judges just sit in court? In the lawyers/judges 5K Category (men’s) Gandhi Truya was the fastest in 26:11 while Marvin Panares and James Hupp came in second and third in 28:55 and 29:06 respectively. In the women’s division, Haide Acuña is now dead sure that I’m a fortune teller in disguise. Weeks before the race I predicted that Haide would win in her category. In the STC Run, I also told Haide that she will win in the STC Category. Well to prove that I’m not a fake seer, I’m predicting Haide to win anew in the female division of the Cebu Press Freedom Run on Sept 26 at the City Sports Club Cebu. Haide clocked 31:21 to leave behind Visminda Truya who timed 32:01 for second with Neely Villanueva pocketing third in 35:42. In the 3K lawyers division male, Lito Ortiz took the title in 20:52 followed by Rameses Villanueva (21:28), and Esteban Pascua 25:19. In the distaff side, Virginia Redelosa was just too fast as she won in 25:16. Bingo Gonzales wound up second in 30:11 with Jessica Melencio claiming third in 35:21. Judge Gabby Ingles and Councilor Ed Labella also joined the run.

The Guardo Running Club continues to entertain the crowd with their hip hop dance “Nobody” during warm-up. Leszl Getaruelas also conducted a pre-race warm up. Twinkle Ignacio got a special prize from IBP president (City) Michael Yu as Lady Justice while Ramsay awarded Rening Ylaya, 73 as the oldest runner. Case dismissed!

Condolences to Elaine Bathan whose father also died last Sunday.   (THE FREEMAN)