Kenyans cruise to easy wins in Mayon Trail Run

MANILA, Philippines - Willy Rotich beat last year’s winner and compatriot Philip Ronoh to lead a 1-2-3 finish by the Kenyans in the Mayon Trail Run held around Mayon Volcano in Legazpi City, Albay recently.

Rotich clocked 2:16:14 to win overall honors in the grueling 22-km run, besting Ronoh, who finished at 2:20:48. Fellow Kenyan Samuel Tarus clocked 2:22:40 for third.

Irene Kipchumba and Susan Jimuntai capped the Kenyans’ domination of the event as they topped the women’s extreme category.

In the local category, Gerald Sabal and Cindy Lorenzo copped first place in the 22k Extreme male and female classes.

Other first placers were Mario Maglinao and Angelica Senining (11k); Roy Pineda and Trishia Reginaldo (3k).

Organized by the city government of Legazpi, the Albay provincial government, and the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Legazpi chapter, the event drew more than 400 extreme runners from the country and around the world.

The race fired off at the top of Lignon Hill, and passed through the Kapit Tuko trail, Wisdom trail, Yawa River, Bonga Gulley, Lava Wall, and the 4 x 4 trail.

According to Legazpi City administrator Noel Rosal, the Mayon Trail Run aims to be the country’s top trail run because of its tough route, comprised mostly of rough trails and less than a kilometer of paved road.

Regarded as the world’s most perfect cone, Mayon is also the site of the Mayon 360 Run, a summertime extreme marathon which goes around the towns at the base of the volcano.

Rosal added that the event will boost Legazpi City’s and Albay’s position as a top sports and adventure tourism haven while adding that running events are tools to increase people’s awareness on environmental issues.