Organizers eye record field in Milo marathon

The Cebu organizer of the 29th National Milo Marathon is confident the Visayas leg will be able to break the record 18,000 runners, which joined the elimination last year.

Ricky Ballesteros of the Cebu City Sports Center confirmed the participation of more than 12,000 runners in the race backed by Nestle Philippines Inc., the makers of Milo energy drink.

Registration is still going on and will end on Monday.

But Ballesteros said there are no more slots available for the premier 21-kilometer elimination race as the 200 slots reserved for it has already been taken.

"We are still requesting from Nestle Philippines if they can give us more slots since there are still runners who want to join the 21K," said Ballesteros, adding that Milo national race director Rudy Biscocho assured him of additional race numbers "if there are excess in the other elimination areas."

As of Friday, the 5-kilometer Fun Run already attracted 9,600 runners while the 3-kilometer Kiddies Run has 246 entries.

The Cebu elimination race on August 28 needs to draw at least 18,400 runners to break the record set by the Queen City of the South in last year's edition.

Meanwhile, Ballesteros also said the deadline for the submission of entries for the Milo Little Olympics will also made on Monday at the Cebu City Sports Center.

The Milo Little Olympics will be held September.