DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Joselito Dugos of Davao City outsmarted two other male runners even as Judelyn Miranda of Tagum City claimed her second leg championship yesterday in the 33rd National Milo Marathon at the Rizal Park.
At about the same time, in Tarlac, Abraham Barcarse Jr. won the regional elimination that started and ended at the Tarlac Plaza.
Barcarse, the 24-year-old former University Athletic Association of the Philippines standout from Far Eastern U, dominated the 21K course right from the start, clocking 1:09.52 to earn a trip to the finals in October in Manila.
“When I bolted away from the field, no one chased me. I could have submitted a better time if my rivals offered a strong challenge,” said the Aparri, Cagayan runner who clocked 1:08 in 2007.
In Davao, Dugos, a graduating criminology student at Holy Cross of Davao College, was engaged in a toe-to-toe race with Rafael Poliquit of Marbel and Noel Bautista of Tagum in most part of the race. But he pulled away for good with five kilometers left in the event held in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel-Manila and the Department of Tourism.
Poliquit and Bautista, however, tried to catch up with Dugos down the stretch, but failed to steal the limelight.
“We took turns setting the pace in the first kilometers then I broke loose in the last 5K,” said the 23-year-old Dugos, who finished the race in 1:15:42.
Poliquit came in second seven seconds behind the leg champion while Bautista followed with a clocking of 1:15:56.
Nestle AVP Pat Goc-ong said all three runners are qualified to run in the 42K Milo national finals Oct. 11.
The distaff side was ruled by the 24-year-old Miranda, who topped the Butuan City leg last year, in 1:31:27.
Placing second was Belgian Caroline Frijlink, a member of the Voluntary Service Overseas and local NGO AFRIM. She timed 1:35:32 to also qualify for the finals.
Settling for third place in the women’s 21K race was Nichiren Panerio in 1:52:18.
A total of 10,691 runners registered for yesterday’s foot race in Davao City.
In Tarlac, Anna Vargas made it back-to-back in 1:28.38, ahead of runner-up May Benedicto (1:28.48) and Estrella Taban (1:29.37). The three qualified for the finals.