Losiaboi wins but loses title in Cebu Rotary Run

CEBU, Philippines - Kenyan missionary Simon Losiaboi won the race but lost the title to Mendel Lopez on technicalities in yesterday's 2nd Cebu Rotary Run starting and ending at SM City-Cebu grounds.

Lopez was actually leading most of the way in the men's 15K action, but Losiaboi was able to catch up with him and eventually reached the finish line first.

Losiaboi clocked in 51 minutes and 48.52 second, while Lopez came in second with the time of 52 minutes and 8.02 seconds.

The title, however, was handed over to Lopez as the organizers disqualified Losiaboi on technical grounds as the Kenyan changed his race number without informing the technical committee.

With Losiaboi's name stripped from the winners' list, Jess Gonzaga owned the second place honors in 57:01.56, while Paul James Zafico wound up third in one hour and 48.75 seconds.

Completing the top eight finishers were Noel Tillor, Allan Polinar, Elvin Flores, Sherwin Managil, and Jeffrey Lumungsod.

In the distaff side, Mary Grace de los Santos reasserted her supremacy with the time of 1:02:51.87,

while Madelyn Carter bagged the first runner-up trophy in1:06:19.98.

The next three spots were occupied by new names in local running in Milagros Tanudtaud (1:24:07.67), Merlinda Ponce (1:26:46.72) and Leonora Martus (1:28:28.63).

In the 15K executives division, Steven Ferraren emerged as the fastest with the time of1:16:55.27. Raymond Bontol ended up second in 1:18:46.95 followed by Gandhi Truya in 1:19:13.44.

Elmer Bartolo, on the other hand, topped the 7K category with the time of 24:68.30. Reprinel Banzon came in second at 25:00.72, while Jobert Carolino placed third in 25:4.97.

The top three finishers in the girls bracket were Jennifer Belocura (33:35.128), Gerly Rose Baylon (34:29.15) and Engr. Lorhiz Echavez (35.37.09). -  THE FREEMAN