National marathon draws country's toughest runners

The country’s finest long distance runners converge in Metro Manila on Sunday to vie for the national championship of the 32nd National Milo Marathon.

The 42.195-kilometer foot race will start at the kilometer-zero post across the Jose Rizal Monument in Luneta and will end at the Quirino Grandstand.

A grand finale is expected in both the men’s and women’s races since national athletes, who failed to run last year because of the 24th Southeast Asian Games, and former champions will compete for the P75,000 top purse.

Defending champions Cresenciano Sabal and Flordeliza Carreon are still among the favorites but they will face tough competition this time.

Leading the challengers for Sabal’s crown are former Milo Marathon national champions Eduardo Buenavista, Allan Ballester, Roy Vence and Julius Sermona. Also expected to vie for a top 10 finish are Crifrankreadel Indapan, Jerry Lindawan, Juniel Languido, Rolando Piamonte, Bernardo Desamito Jr., Gerald Sabal, Alquin Bolivar and Reynaldo delos Reyes.

Among the runners expected to steal the limelight in the women’s side are former champions Jho-An Banayag, Liza Yambao and Estela Mamac-Diaz. Also favored are Ailene Tolentino, Maricel Maquilan, Irene Apuhin, Ellen Tolentino, Cecile Faith Topia, Hazel Madamba, Christy Sevilleno, Mona Liza Ambasa and Merlita Arias.

Peter Noszek, Nestle Phils. chief finance officer who joined the 21K Angeles City elimination run at the Clark Freeport Zone and the San Pablo City run, will join the qualifiers in his first attempt to run a marathon.

Sen. Pia Cayetano, a regular fixture in the Milo races, is also expected to run on Sunday.