Antipolo rules Laguna Lake ultra marathon relay

MANILA, Philippines - The Antipolo runners thrived with another balanced performance to foil the comeback of the Eduardo Buenavista-led Airforce-Brooks in capturing the first Laguna Lake Challenge which ended at the Tiendesitas in Pasig yesterday.

Obviously better-prepared for the rigorous 207-km. ultra marathon team relay, the wards of grizzled marathoner and former national standout Roy Vence showed a lot of poise and spunk in ruling the event organized by the Laguna Lake Conservation Society and Laguna Lake Development Authority.

Antipolo bagged the grand prize of P350,000 with a total time of seven hours, 25 minutes and 45 seconds while the Airmen, despite the courageous bid of country’s top long-distance runner, settled for the runnerup pot of P200,000 after logging 7:41.59 in the event backed by the Laguna and Rizal provincial governments, Manila Water Company, San Miguel Corp. and Nestle Phils.

Army Team D (7:58.31) took third place, worth P100,000, while its Team D (8:01.57) was fourth and garnered P75,000 in the two-day event also supported by PCSO, Rotary Club Makati Central, Unilever, Sogo Hotels, Petron, NCA, and CBK Power Company Ltd. and Pagcor.

“Our rigid three-month training in Antipolo paid off,” said an elated Vence, a five-time Milo marathon men’s champion, after his charges, with a bit of luck, were able to sustain their bid in the race meant to focus on the vital importance of the fresh water body.

Also feeling like a winner was LLDA general manager Edgardo Manda, who said the ultra marathon competition helped raise public awareness on Laguna Lake.

He said two big companies were interested in aiding the agency’s advocacy to conserve Laguna Lake and its surroundings since reading news of the ultra marathon.

“We could not have staged this event without the help of the private sector, which is the way we have been approaching the challenges facing the water body,” he added. “I believe we have found a successful formula to address these issues.”

On the other hand, MWC president Rogelio Singson, who was at the finish line, said that the water concessionaire would continue supporting Manda and the LLDA’s vision for the lake.