Bolivar retains Milo marathon crown in Batangas; Sawin-ay tops Iligan leg

MANILA, Philippines - Alquin Bolivar successfully defended his title in the Batangas City leg of the 33rd National Milo Marathon yesterday but six-time national champion Roy Vence was back in the limelight in the 21K qualifying run.

Bolivar outsprinted Gerald Sabal in the final hundred meters of the race to claim his third Milo marathon leg crown.

“The race was tough, the three of us sluggged it out throughout the race,” said Bolivar, referring to Sabal and Vence.

The 43-year-old Vence actually took the early lead, showing Bolivar and Sabal a thing or two on long-distance running.

“Two were quite strong, that’s why I did not chase them anymore when they pulled away,” said Vence of the Philippine Navy.

Vence, however, said that with a little more training he could give Bolivar and Sabal, both Armymen, a run for their money in the 42K grand finale Oct.11 in Metro Manila.

“I had a two-year layoff because I focused on coaching, but this morning the urge to run was again there,” Vence said.

Bolivar, who also topped the elimination race in Lucena in 2005, clocked one hour, 12 minutes, 23 seconds.

Sabal, brother of two-time Milo Marathon king Cresenciano Sabal, came in two seconds behind to claim second place. Vence finished third at 1:13:19. Darwin Lim placed fourth in 1:14:01. They all made the qualifying time of 1:15:00 for the men’s and will advance to the finals.

In the distaff side, only one runner made the cut-off time of 1:35:00.

Maricel Maquilan ran uncontested in the women’s race and breasted the tape in 1:29:37.

Ellen Tolentino came in a distant second at 1:37:43 and Janeth Lopena finished third at 1:52:20.

Senator Pia Cayetano, a regular fixture of the Milo races, ran in the 21K event yesterday and clocked 2:02:57.

In Iligan City, Roger Sawin-ay sprinted away from his two breakaway rivals in the last 500 meters to win the Iligan leg simultaneously held yesterday at the Iligan City Freedom Park Plaza.

Sawin-ay, Jeffrey Sotto, and Edgar Lapastigue bolted away from the main pack right after the starting gun, then ran as one before the 34-year-old runner from Bukidnon sprinted away to win the race in 1:15.10.

Edgar Lapastigue clocked 1:19.59, edging Primo Baretos (1:20.55).

“I had full control the moment I made the breakaway,” said the 34-year-old Sawin-ay, who works as a maintenance employee of a private firm in Bukidnon.

Cecile Faith Topia, meanwhile, shared honors with Sawin-ay by ruling the distaff side in 1:40.56 and also won P10,000. Mely May Canamo came in second in 1:51.14.

Mark Glenn Arellano won the 10K in 35.13 while Jamaica Rivera ruled the distaff side in 1:22.13.

“The staging of the Milo Marathon indeed showed that Iligan is generally peaceful. I’m very happy because organizers of Milo Marathon included Iligan as part of the nationwide elimination races,” said Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz, who helped award the prizes and trophies to the winners in the different racing events.

More than 12,700 registered runners participated in the races yesterday held in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel Manila and the Department of Tourism.

The country’s biggest and longest-running foot race holds another simultaneous race Sunday in Gen. Santos City and Puerto Princesa City.