'Spartan Race' in Cebu draws 2,000 participants

MANILA, Philippines – Close to 2,000 obstacle course competitors, including those seeking slots to the 2018 Team World Championships in September, took part in the first Spartan Race in Cebu last Saturday.

Organized by Spartan Philippines, which has conducted similar races in San Mateo in Rizal and Porac in Pampanga, the event covered 6.5 kilometers of 21 obstacles on a mountain trail.

Aside from the elite runners in individual and team events, other age brackets contested in Foressa in Balamban, Cebu were 14-17 years, 18-24, 25-29, 30-39, 40-49 and 50-above.

Members of the Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation (POSF) led by lawyer Al Agra ruled the team events — Charles Or, Nathaniel Sanchez and Vernier John Mendoza in the men’s side, and Ali Chiongbian, Jennifer Gabriel and Sarah Jane Lim in the women’s side.

The race is part of the Southeast Asian Regional Series, and is the country’s only qualifying event for the Team World Championships in North Lake Tahoe on September 30.

Spartan is an international brand of the fast-growing sport of obstacle course racing.

Agra, who finished seventh in the 50-above category, said the POSF will help the team that will represent the country in North Lake Tahoe by providing them airfare and accommodation.

“It’s part of the ‘OCRacers-first’ strategy of the POSF,” said Agra of the federation, which is recognized by the World OCR Federation, Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission.

Agra, who served as Acting Justice Secretary under the Arroyo administration, is treasurer of the World OCR and president of the Asian OCR Federation.