Milo unravels running whiz kids

ROXAS CITY –The future of Philippine long-distance running is in Roxas City. This was evident enough when the 27th National Milo Marathon held its second regional elimination race last Sunday at the country’s seafood capital.

Marigen Campos, Sealand Agana and Cherry Gil Saba had wanted to join the women’s 20-kilometer leg last Sunday but because they failed to meet the age requirement of 18, they were relegated to the 5-kilometer run. The result was a no-contest and a warning that the future has arrived.

Campos is only 17, yet she had registered the fastest time among the female competitors in last year’s leg here. But because she was only 16 then, she was dropped from the winners’ circle and lost her chance to compete in the National Finals.

She clocked in at 1:26:59 last year in the 20-k run and 18:59 in the 5-k this year.

Campos even beat this year’s 20-k queen Gloria Diaz when they met in the Roxas leg last year. The 27-year-old Diaz, however, will have to wait for next year’s race to redeem herself and get the chance to beat Campos.

Agana is only 15. She has prepared herself to run the 20-k this year, but had to settle for the runner-up honors in the 5-k event. She has been running for five years now and is aiming to beat Campos in the near future and win the MILO Marathon National Finals someday.

Saba is only 13 and a second year high school student at the Western Aklan Academy. As a 12-year-old, Saba has ruled the 10-k marathon in Aklan and now she wanted to aim for more. But like Campos and Agana, she can not yet compete in the 20-k event.

Her father-coach Rally could not have been more proud of his daughter. His only wish is for her to outdo what he had done during his prime.

Copping the next two places in the women’s 5-k run last Sunday were a pair of 13-year-old runners, Hanny Delfin and Sheriela Cortel.

However, the biggest surprise and promise of them all was sixth placer Mae Luna. She is only 10. She can still compete in the 3-k Kiddie Fun Run, but took herself to the next level and joined the 5-k run for the first time. Proud mother Conrada, nearly in tears, gave her daughter a kiss after she received her sixth place medal from MILO Sports Executive Pat Goc-ong. She said she wanted Mae to run in the Kiddie category, but her daughter had wanted to run in the 5-k event. The proud mother added that Mae probably got her running spirit from father Pantaleon who was a runner himself during his teens.

These are some of the personalities to watch in foot races in the near future. And because of events like the MILO Marathon, their young dreams can be realized.