Barcarse, Dysangco top Milo run

TARLAC – Abraham Barcarse returned to the scene of his triumph last year by ruling the fourth leg of the National Milo marathon elimination here yesterday.

Barcarse, 22, spurted right from the starting gun fired by city Mayor Aro Mendoza, clocking 1:08:07 to pocket the top prize of P10,000 and the right to compete in the grand finals set in November in Manila.

The winning time bettered the winnng time of 1:10 he recorded here last year.

"Umpisa pa lang umigkas na ako hanggang sa finish line,"said the farmer’s son from Aparri, Cagayan.

Barcarse did not compete in the finals last year due to left knee injury while competing in the UAAP track and field running for Far Eastern University. The race was won by Julius Sermona of Negros Occidental.

"Ngayon lang ako tatakbo sa finals. Paghahandaan ko ito dahil mabigat ang labanan dito lahat na magagaling sa bansa ay kasali," said Barcarse.

Jujet de Asis, a protégé of 1992 Milo marathon champion Rey Antoque, came in second in 1:10:53 while Bowen Montecillo came in third in 1:12:56.

De Asis and Montecillo challenged Barcarse in the early going but faded out as the race wore on.

Analiza Dysangco ruled the distaff side in 1:32:45 and won P10,000. Anna Liza Vargas came in second (1:42:08) and Ederlita Sanchez third (1:45:46).

The top three finishers from both men and women divisions received their cash prizes and trophies from Milo events executive Pat Goc-Ong.

Close to 10,000 runners competed in the fourth leg of the 24 legs of the premier footrace organized by Tarlac City Sports Arnold Rodriguez in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel and Adidas. The race was supervised by race director Rudy Biscocho.

The series resumes in Mindanao in June with the fifth leg slated in General Santos City after a three-month respite.