Barcelo tops Milo all-Bicolano race

NAGA CITY – It was an all-Bicolano affair in last weekend's staging of the third Adidas-backed Milo regional elimination race in Naga City in Camarines Sur

Local race organizers Naga City Sports Council headed by its chairman Pedro Lee limited the participants to natives and residents of the different provinces in the Bicol region with veteran runner Neri Barcelo, 34, from Goa, Camarines Sur easily topping the 10K race in 35:05.

A supervisor in Forever Living Products, Barcelo took the lead at the 3K mark and never looked back en route to a solo victory that was worth P5,000 and a trip to the National Milo 42K finals in Metro Manila in December.

"Maraming malakas din kaya target ko lang maka-top 3," said Barcelo who relegated PAF serviceman and Sorsogon native Mike Samson to second (36:21).

Third place went to Sustenes Ballester Jr., younger brother of this year’s defending National Milo Marathon champion Allan Ballester. "Gusto kong sumunod sa dalawa kong kapatid, si Wilfredo at Allan na pareho ng nag-champion," said Ballester, 22, who earned P2,000 with his 36:34 clocking. He joins Barcelo and Samson in the 42K finals.

In the women’s division of the event which attracted close to 3,500 entries including the participants in the 3K and 5K fun runs, last year’s third placer Joy Pardinas from Naga City improved her finish and topped the event.