Cebu City Marathon fires off today

CEBU, Philippines - The bold, the brave and the daring ones take on the biggest running challenge in the Queen City of the South in recent memory as the Cebu City Marathon hits off the road early this morning starting and ending at the Asiatown IT Park in Brgy. Apas, this city.

Cebu’s top bets in Kenyan missionary Simon Losiaboi, Elmer Bartolo and Mendel Lopez and the undisputed women’s champion Mary Grace de los Santos all brace for a tough challenge against a slew of

decorated long-distance runners in the full marathon race sponsored by Globe and 100 Plus.

Standing in the way of Losiaboi, who is undefeated in all nine races he joined here in just two-month span, are his fellow Kenyans Willy Taniu and David Kipsang and Manila-based footracers in the mold of Cresenciano Sabal, Roy Vence, Rene Desuyo and Eric Panique to name a few.

In the women’s division, the Zamboanga-native De los Santos sees Kenyan Susan Chepwony, Cebuana Miselle Gilbuena and Aileen Tolentino as her hardest adversaries.

Tolentino was the best Filipina finisher during last month’s Quezon City International Marathon, but lost to De los Santos in two occasions that they raced against each other.

Given the magnitude of the event, it’s going to be a festive atmosphere as people from all walks of life will converge for what is regarded as the grandest and richest marathon in Cebu.

Fully supported by the city government of Cebu, the lung-busting tilt organized by the Cebu Executive Runners Club (CERC) dangles a total of P300,000 in cash prizes for the top performers in different categories. The champion in both men and women’s division of the 42-kilometer category will take home P50,000 each.

Aside from the 42K, the other race lengths featured are the 21K and 5K for fun runners.

Aside from the seasoned runners, noted eye doctor Yong Larrazabal, surgeon Dr. Peter Mancao and James Abilla have formed a three-man marathon team named as the Larrazabal Eye-St. James.

Larrazabal said their team will be a run-walk pacing group wherein they will run for three minutes and walk for one minute. Their target is to reach the finish line in five hours and 30 minutes. Their group is composed mostly of first time marathoners Regional Training School (RTS) of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

City councilor Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem has earlied advised the public particularly the motorists and churchgoers that the race route will be closed from 2:30 to 9:30 am.