Ballester earns ticket to Chicago marathon

Asian Games-bound Navyman Allan Ballester won the New Balance Race-to-Chicago 25K run and will represent the Philippines at the La Salle Banks-Chicago Marathon in October.

Ballester, 28, earned the trip to the United States by rulin the men’s field in yesterday’s race which started and ended at The Fort.

Over a thousand runners joined the event, including the 10K and 2.5K celebrity fun run, sponsored by Planet Sports, distributor of New Balance products in the country.

The event was fired off by Planet Sports president Anton Gonzales, who also confirmed the event will be a regular anual affair which may even have shorter 10K run series in the future.

"Talagang expected ko ito, wala yung ibang malalakas na kalaban, tapos ang pacing ko pabilis, yung kalaban ko pahina, maganda ang ruta dito sa loob ng Fort Bonifacio, walang traffic at disiplinado ang mga drivers," said Ballester, referring to his erstwhile co-pacer, Reynaldo de los Reyes from the Philippine Army.

Aside from the trip to Chicago, courtesy of PAL, the two-time Ballester also went home P7,000 richer. Tarlac native Mamerto Corpuz was second (1:26.32) and Esmeraldo Ondoy third (1:27.58).

St. Louis University senior Luzviminda Cachero ruled the women’s division of the race co-sponsored by Gatorade, ING-Life, Atlanta Pipes, Polar Heart Rate Monitor, Potencee, Jollibee, Adobo Republic, PAGCOR, BCDA, Streescape, and 89.1 Wave. She clocked 1:41.09 and won P7,000.