Kenyans stamp class anew, top Condura run

MANILA, Philippines - The Kenyans continued to dominate local racing as David Kipsang and Peris Poywo swept the centerpiece 42K event in the 2010 Condura Run for the Dolphins of Bohol race at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig yesterday.

Kipsang, on an extended stay after competing in a number of events late last year, turned back the local challenge in the men’s side that used part of the Skyway as its race course, clocking two hours, 38 minutes and two seconds.

Poywo, on the other hand, was timed 3:16:48, beating Susan Chemutai, 3:19:52, in a 1-2 finish by the Kenyans.

More than 9,000 runners took part in the races, the bulk of which joined the 10K, 5K and 3K fun runs.

Kipsang actually found some resistance from brothers Cresenciano and Elmer Sabal, who pressed their bids in the first 38 kms of the race only to reel back when the Kenyan stepped up his pace in the last four kms. With two kms to go, Cresenciano, a three-time Milo Marathon winner, asked his younger brother to go after Kipsang, who simply shrugged off Elmer’s charge to finish ahead by three seconds.

Kipsang thus pocketed the top P60,000 purse while Elmer, who turned in a 2:38:05 clocking, settled for P40,000. Cresenciano, who clocked 2:39:40, placed third for P20,000.

Luisa Raterta, who came in at 3:20:39, finished third in the distaff side.

The country’s top long distance runners, including SEA Games gold medal winners Eduardo Buenavista and Jho-An Banayag, failed to join the race because they are slated to compete in Hong Kong later this month.

In the men’s 21K race, Eric Panique clocked 1:12:53 to nip Alquin Bolivar (1:12:54) and Alley Quisay (1:12:55) in a down-to-the-wire finish.

There were actually seven of them in the lead pack, including 2008 Condura Run champion Rene Herrera and Frank Indapan, but Panique outsprinted his rivals in the last few meters.

Marecil Maquilan took the ladies plum in the 21K in 1:30:59 while Nhea Ann Barcena (1:39:38) and Jacqueline Rohbach (1:44:43) placed second and third.

According to Condura’s president and COO Ton Concepcion, P50 from every entry fee will go to the protection and preservation of the dolphins in Pamilican Island, Bohol.

In 2008, the advocacy run had the Tubbataha Reefs of Palwan as its beneficiary. Last year, the whale sharks of Donsol, Sorsogon benefited from the race.

The other winners were Willy Tanui (32:21) and Mercedita Fetalvero (38:39) in the 10K, Mervin Guarte (15:18) and Armie Rose (22:07) in the 5K and Michael Bacong (9:10) and Vanessa Bardalosa (13:05) in the 3K.