Desamito, Banayag rule Run with the Masters

MANILA, Philippines - Quondam national athlete Bernardo Desamito and marathon specialist Joan Banayag posted contrasting victories in the 21.1K Run with the Masters inaugurals on a route starting and ending at the Rizal Park yesterday.

Desamito, a former Army serviceman whose forte of yore was the middle distance – 1,500 meters and 3,000m steeplechase – alternated with Jojit de Asis, Alley Quisay and upcoming Mario Maglinao up to the 13-kilometer mark.

With only 5 kilometers remaining and only De Asis sticking with him, Desamito, from San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, surged ahead as De Asis began to wilt under Desamito’s searing pace.

Banayag, 2009 Southeast Asian Games marathon gold medalist and 2005-06 National Milo Marathon champion, grabbed the lead as soon at the start and never relinquished it up to the tape.

Desamito, who tuned up for the 21.1K by dominating the Philippine Dental 10K a week earlier, clocked one hour, 13 minutes, 50 seconds while Banayag, a member of the athletics national pool, 1:22:41 in the centerpiece of the 3-in-1 run organized by the newly formed National Masters and Seniors Athletic Association of the Philippines in cooperation with Philippine Sports Commission with the support of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

 Quisay (1:14:46) and Maglinao (1:15:14) in the men’s division and Nhea-Ann Barcena (1:26:19) and Candy Agana (1:30:56) in the distaff side rounded out the podium finishers in the half-marathon of the fund raiser for the Team Philippines to the July World Masters Athletic Championship in Sacramento, California.

 Sierra Commercial, Anchor Shape up, Aronamin multi vitamins, Water Phil, Cenovis fish oil and Cenovis joint guard, Smart C+ ice tea, Oishi ridges and Walter bread were the sponsors with The Philippine STAR as media partner.

Eighty-one-year old Deofolo Arce took the 70-above category in 2:20:38 to banner the age division winners that included Victor Ting in the 60-69, Eduardo Villanueva (1:23:31) and Elma Naval (2:05:59) in the 50-59, Roy Vence (1:17:20) and Mila Paje (1:38:19) in the 40-49 and Gilbert Viran (1:29:56) and Enate Nuevas (1:37:25)in the 35-39.

Far Eastern University’s Rafael Poliquit Jr. (35:36) and University of the East’s Mercedita Fetalvero ((42:08) emerged as 10K champions.

The top 3 finishers in the 3K were Mervin Guarte, Jong Boncales and Ram Lacson (men) and Trishia Ramiez, Janet Lumidao and Marecil Maquilan (women).