Bolivar, Fetalvero rule Milo Batangas runs

BATANGAS CITY – Alquin Bolivar topped the opening leg of the 32nd National Milo Marathon here yesterday but RP’s undisputed 10K queen Mercedita Fetalvero stole the limelight in the women’s 21K race.

Bolivar, who ruled the Lucena City leg of the country’s biggest and longest running foot race last year, finished yesterday’s 21K qualifying run in one hour, 11 minutes and 12 seconds and bagged the top purse of P10,000.

“It’s a good run under ideal conditions. There were uphill stretches but otherwise it’s a good route ,” said the 22-year-old Bolivar of Cagayan de Oro. 

Jessie Ano of Davao City came in second at 1:12:50 while Darwin Lim finished third at 1:15:47.

The surprise of the race, however, was Fetalvero, who has not lost a single 10K race on Philippine soil since 1998. Of course, the sporting world knows her by her maiden name – Mercedita Manipol.

“First time to race in 21K at Milo Marathon and first time I used Fetalvero in a race,” said Fetalvero, who won the bronze medal in the last Southeast Asian Games.

She added she’s been married to husband Ronnie, a school teacher in San Agustin, Romblon, since 2006 but competed under her maiden name in the SEA Games as stated in her passport.

In a rare feat in any local foot race, a woman had barged into the top 10 overall finishers as Fetalvero came in sixth overall with the time of 1:18:45. She said she will train harder for the 42K finale of the 32nd Milo Marathon on Nov. 30.

She said she will run again in the DZMM Takbo Para sa Kalikasan on Feb. 17 in Metro Manila before taking a much-needed break.

Placing second and third in the distaff side were Corazon Salcedo (1:38:18) and Ellen Tolentino (1:42:11).

The top three finishers in the men’s and women’s races of the 21K qualifying run will advance to the finals of the event held in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel-Manila, Adidas and the Department of Tourism.

Next week’s elimination races will be held in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

The winners in the 5K fun run were Narciso Manansala (16:37), Nickon Cuyom (17:01) and Michael Roca (17:13) in the men’s and Ailyn Morillo (21:36), Cinderella Agana (23:09) and Cheryl Tolentino (24:19) in the women’s side.

Topping the 3K race for kids were John Ross Acosta and Jesseca De Castro in the 6-9 age group and Christimar Castillo and Sharalyn Ebreo in the 10-12 category.