Banayag keeps title; Sermona pulls coup

Two national tracksters who failed to make the grade for the Doha Qatar Asian Games won battles at home front yesterday, shining bright under intermittent weather in the 30th National Milo Marathon Finals.

Jho-an Banayag made a successful defense of her crown in record-breaking fashion while Julius Sermona pulled a coup by stunning fancied rivals for the men’s crown in the prestigious 42.195k run starting and ending at the Rizal Park.

Proving so much for the opposition, Banayag, a 25-year-old Compostella Valley native who placed fourth in the 2005 SEA Games marathon event, ran her own race and outdid herself as she shattered the course record of 2:53:58 set by Cristabel Martes in 2004.

Marathon experts said the cool, friendly weather kept Banayag fresh, helping her establish a new record of 2:48:16.

"I’ve lost them (her rivals) when I reached Buendia. I just challenged myself upon seeing the clock reading 2:33. I told myself I can break the record," said Banayag in the vernacular.

The pint-sized runner out of University of Mindanao was bewildered after the race, saying she didn’t even expect to win, wary of eventual second placer Flordeliza Carreon.

Carreon, a San Fernando qualifier, did make a good account of herself, too, as she also surpassed the old record, clocking 2:52:04.

The second runner-up honors went to Kidapawan qualifier Estela Diaz.

Banayag won the champion’s purse of P75,000 plus a P10,000 bonus for her record-breaking feat. Carreon earned P50,000 and Diaz P30,000.

Having bought a tractor for her farmer father from her prize last year, Banayag said she intends to keep her money in the bank this time.

If the women’s race was a walk in the park for Banayag, the men’s event was a bit challenging for Sermona, a national team middle distance specialist and an Air Force enlisted man, who barely eluded Bernardo Desamito and Allan Ballester in the last few kilometers.

Left in the coattails of Sermona, Desamito and Ballester was titleholder Cresenciano Sabal who faded away after the turn at Global City.

Apparently, last week’s Yakult 16k run and the Global City 10k run the previous week took their toll on Sabal.

Sermona, Desamito and Ballester took turns in setting the pace with Sabal left behind. They ran as one until Sermona, who bagged the silver in 5k and bronze in 10k in the 2005 Manila SEAG, made a daring move nearing the last three kilometers on Vito Cruz.

The Himamaylan native, an education graduate at the Binalbagan Catholic College, stepped up the pace and never looked back, checking in by his lonesome at the finish to cheers from his supporters led by Tinto Bascon, son of renowned Bacolod sports leader Dodong and Carminia, the Himamaylan mayor.

"I was really hoping to win because I had a good training for this," said Sermona, 28, who ruled the event in only his second try. He was seventh in 2001.

"When I was able to hang on with them (Desamito and Ballester), I really felt the championship would be mine. I have the advantage in speed since I’m a middle-distance runner," Sermona said.

Sermona also earned P75,000 with Desamito settling for P50,000 as second placer and Ballester P30,000 as second runner-up.

Both Banayag and Sermona said their victory augured well for their early preparation for the 2007 SEA Games in Bangkok.

"I want to win a medal for our country," said Banayag.

"I’ve won a bronze and a silver in the SEA Games. It will surely be more fulfilling winning a gold," said Sermano, who still intends to concentrate on middle-distance events for the national team despite his Milo Marathon triumph.

Jerry Lindawan (10k), Cinderella Agana (10k female), Roosebelt Lobo (5k) and Nhea Barcena (5k female) topped their respective events in the annual race held in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel-Manila, Adidas, Cebu Pacific, Department of Tourism and Powerbar and backed by the Manila Sports Council and the city governments of Pasay, Parañaque, Makati and Taguig.

NOTES: Men’s defending champion and national record-holder Eduardo Buenavista missed the event as he’s fielded in the Doha Asiad. Martes was absent as she’s on the family way…Sermona, Arnel Ferrera and Jerome Perater were among the athletes discovered by Irish missionary Colun O’Halpin and tapped to play for the Binalbagan Catholic College. They have all made it to the national team. Before taking a crack at the 42k, Sermona used to dominate the Milo 5k and 10k runs…Tinto Bascon said Sermona is only the second athlete from Himamaylan to make it big after former world boxing champion Rolando Bohol. Bascon sponsored two male and two female Himamaylan runners in this year’s Milo national final.