Alley Quisay surprised two former champions to rule the men’s division even as Ailene Tolentino captured her second straight women’s crown yesterday in the 20th Yakult 10-Miler at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex ground in Pasay.
Quisay, a former national athlete who is making a comeback after two years of absence, methodically shadowed 2006 champion Bernardo Desamito and 2007 winner Cresenciano Sabal before stealing the upperhand for good in the last 500 meters of the 16-kilometer (10-mile) foot race.
“Mahina kasi ako sa endurance kaya plano ko talaga na dumikit lang sa kanila (Desamito and Sabal). Sabi ko sa sarili ‘pag nakasabay ako sa kanila, matatalo ko sila sa sprint dahil tiyak pagod na sila,” said Quisay, 28.
True enough, Quisay saw an opportunity near the finish line when Desamito and Sabal, who both ran in the Milo Marathon finals the previous Sunday, hobbled in their pacing.
Quisay finished the race in 52 minutes, 10 seconds to pocket the top prize of P10,000. Desamito came in five seconds later to claim the P5,000 purse for second place.
“Wala na, nakaramdam na ako ng pagod malapit sa finish line, hahabulin ko pa sana sila pero di ko na nakayanan,” said Sabal, who placed third at 52:20.
Two years ago, Desamito outsprinted Sabal down-the-wire to rule the country’s only PATAFA-sanctioned 16K race. Sabal, however, got even with Desamito last year at the same venue.
The distaff side, on the other hand, was a one-woman show as Tolentino led from start to finish to win her second Yakult 10-Miler.
She clocked 1:04:06, two minutes and a second ahead of second placer Maricel Maquilan.
Maquilan admitted to have conceded the title to Tolentino in the early part of the race because she recently competed and placed second in the 42K Milo Marathon the previous Sunday and topped a 5K run last Saturday.
“Hindi ko na pinilit manalo dito kaya nag-easy-easy na lang ako,” said Maquilan, who also placed second to Tolentino last year.
Placing third was Librada Tamson with a clocking of 1:09:57.
Yakult’s 5K side event was dominated by Carlito Mangua Jr. (17:02) and Elizabeth Phillips (24:44) while the 3K age-group race for kids were topped by Leonne Hernaez and Charlene Magat in the 6-9 category and Simon Hernaez and Juhaina Durana in the 10-12.
More than 1,800 runners joined in the race sponsored by Yakult, the health drink with lacto bacilli Shirota strain.