Old champ, new find come to life in Milo Marathon

MANILA, Philippines - A former champion on a comeback trail and an unheralded runner out to make a name hogged the spotlight yesterday by pulling off a pair of thrilling victories in the 42.1K National Milo Marathon NCR eliminations at the Quirino Grandstand yesterday.

Christabel Martes, best remembered for winning three straight Milo National Marathon titles from 1999, edged fellow RP team mainstay Jho-Ann Banayag in a down-to-the-wire finish to capture the ladies title in two hours and 48.58 minutes.

Rene Desuyo, who at 5-2 has a striking similarity to top marathon man Eduardo “Vertek” Buenavista, came from behind to nip former two-time Milo National champion Allan Ballester in a race decided only in the final 800 meters.

Desuyo’s win was so close that his winning time of 2:33.38 was barely a second faster than Ballester’s clocking of 2:34:38 on a hot, humid day.

A total of 19,713 runners answered the starting gun at the break of dawn, a significant improvement to last year’s Milo National finals that drew 18,598 participants at the Luneta Park.

On hand to grace the race were Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Bayani Fernando, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Nestle Asia-Oceania and Africa Zone head Fritz Van Dijk.

Nestle Philippines, Inc. president and CEO Nandu Nandkishore joined the 10K race and made an impressive finish.

But it was more inspiring for Martes, the 2005 Manila SEAG gold medalist who had to stop running after fracturing her left foot before the 2007 Thailand Games and getting pregnant the same year.

Now she’s back with a bang.

“It’s a good feeling winning again, I hope I’ll be able to fully recover in time for the Laos SEA Games,” said Martes.

It was sweeter for Desuyo, whose previous big run was in the 2007 Sinulog Marathon in Cebu City where he finished second to Bernardo Desamito.

“I didn’t expect to win here and I’m surprised I did,” said the soft-spoken native of Bago City, Negros Occidental, a province noted more for producing top-caliber fighters. He won P30,000.

Ballester, the 2003 Vietnam SEA Games gold medal winner and winner here in 2000 and 2001, said he tried to meet the SEA Games standard time of 2:26 by sprinting his way to the lead in the first 30 kilometers of the 42.125 km race but lost steam in the final stretch.

That enabled Desuyo to overtake him in front of the Jose Rizal’s monument, some 800 meters away from the finish line.

“My target is to meet the standard time in Laos that’s why I gave everything in the first 30 kilometers but I had only two weeks to prepare – that’s why I failed to finish strong,” said Ballester, who despite the loss will run the full marathon in Laos for Team RP in place of Buenavista, the 2008 Milo Marathon titlist, who will instead compete in middle distance races in the biennial games.

“I can finish first place here if I want to but I had to think of the SEA Games standard. And it was a mistake,” he said.

Alley Quisay finished third in 2:37:31 while Rogelio Sarmiento (2:44.33), Rogie Ascano (2:48:58), Modesto Madalang (2:51.04), Arsenio Uminga (2:51:41), Darry Bado (2:52.09), Ronald Despi (2:52.32) and Luis Penid (2:56.11) rounded up the top 10.

Banayag was equally frustrated as she was hounded by the same injury that prevented her from finishing in last year’s Milo National Finals topped by Mercedita Manipol-Fetalvero.

Fetalvero, a 5K and 10K specialist, skipped the event to focus on her training for Laos.

Banayag also led in last year’s race but was forced to step out halfway through due to leg pains, paving the way for Fetalvero’s victory.

Aileen Tolentino placed third in 3:16:46 followed by Joanne Managat (3:26:15), Geraldine Sealza (3:34.50) and Librada Tamson (3:50.38).

After receiving her trophy and the P30,000 purse, Martes dedicated her triumph to two-and-a-half year old daughter Maryam Sophie and Dagoberto Rojas-Scott, one of the Cuban coaches training the national boxers.

“They’re my inspiration and he helped me in my preparation,” said Martes, referring to Scott, her newfound love.

The route started at Roxas Boulevard in front of Luneta, with the field, from weekend runners, students to professionals, twice covering the length of Roxas Blvd. and part of Coastal Road near the Marina before going back to Luneta.

Running at a deliberate pace over a virtually flat course, Martes and Banayag alternated in towing the field before the former made her move in front of the Central Bank Building near Quirino Ave.

Ballester, who finished third behind Buenavista and Cresenciano Sabal last year, appeared headed for a big finish after taking the lead at the first halfway turn at Coastal Mall. But he failed to sustain his charge, enabling the chasing pack, headed by Desuyo, to close in and eventually surge ahead at the finish.

“I wasn’t really focused on my time, I was just running to run. I’m just glad I won,” said Desuyo.

“If given a chance, I’d like to run for the RP team in Laos,” he said.

For her part, Martes said she will use the money to finance her laser treatment in her hometown in Baguio.

“I will use the money to pay for my recovery because I really want to run again without the pain,” she said.