CEBU, Philippines — History beckons in Cebu sports
as the hotly anticipated AIA Cebu Marathon 2025 slated on Sunday, January 12, at the SM Seaside City grounds passing through the iconic Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) draws a record-breaking number of participants.
In all, 12,275 runners from over 40 nations all over the world will be seeing action in one of the country’s biggest and grandest marathons, with 3, 127 bracing for the tough 42-kilometer challenge.
The 25K category has the most number of entries with 6, 165.
The 12K has 2,090 runners, while 893 will be joining in the 6K.
It’s by far the biggest turnout since the inception of the annual footrace in 2008, surpassing last year’s figures that hit 8,800.
“I would like to commend the organizers of this event. I was told we have, from 46 countries, 12,000 participants. This is a very good and commendable event. It is good for tourism in our city,” said Cebu City Mayor Raymond Garcia during the event’s formal launching yesterday.
“Hopefully more and more events will come to our city.It is a thrust of our Cebu City government:sports tourism. Events like this is not only good for sports but also improves the city’s economy.”
Also present were vice mayor Dondon Hontiveros, councilor Joel Garganera, sports commission chairman John Pages, and
officials of the organizing Cebu Executive Runners Club (CERC) headed by Jesse Taborada.
Pages attributed the record numbers to the global running boom after the pandemic.
He added that next year, the Cebu Marathon will be registered anew to the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) to make it a qualifying race for major events.
Meanwhile, the race expo and race kit claiming continues today (Friday, January 10) from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will end on Saturday, January 11, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Mountain Wing of SM Seaside.
Gun start is set at 12:30 a.m. on race day. Cutoff time is eight hours.
Cash prizes and exclusive goodies await the top finishers.
The champion in the 42K will take home P40,000, while the second to fifth placers will pocket P20,000, P15,000, P10,000 and P7,500, respectively.
The Top 5 will receive P20,000, P10,000, P7,500, P5,000, and P3,000 in the 25K, P10,000, P8,000, P5,000, P3,000, and P2,000 in the 12K, and P5,000, P4,000, P3,000, P2,000, and P1,000 in the 6K.
Additonally, there will be a special prize for the Best Costume and a surprise raffle for all participants.