Lopez, Getaruelas top Arthro-Midnight Run

Mendel Lopez and Leiszl Lumindas-Getaruelas started year 2007 with a blast as they scorched the field to win the crown in the 6th Arthro-Cebu Midnight Run at the Cebu Business Park.

Lopez and Getaruelas, who shared the podium last month after ruling the Mano Amon Run in Danao, were on top of their form again to win the men and women's open title, respectively.

A native of Santa Catalina, Oriental Negros, Lopez of University of Southern Philippines Foundation, was first noticed in local long distance racing when he topped the same race back in 2003. His second title of the 5-kilometer race, Lopez was engaged in a neck-to-neck battle by high school senior student Joel Delposo of Badian National High School.

Delposo is the younger brother of Milo Marathon Cebu elimination champion Eugene, who is a teammate of Lopez at USPF.

But Lopez banked on his vast experience to dispose off the teenage, speeding up in the final stretch to win the race in 15 minutes and 59.234 seconds while Delposo trailed by five meters to clock 16:00.84 for second place.

A far third placer was Reprinel Banzon of Abellana National School in 17:07.73.

The visiting Charlot Cutara of Bohol Institute of Technology was fourth with 18:02.70 and Ricky Abalayan took the fifth honors in 18:28.02.

Charlie Berbario of Cebu Doctors University, who is slowly recovering from injury following an accident in Danao last month, wound up sixth in 18:36.57 while Simon Timmins was seventh in 19:19.79.

The eighth to 10th placers were Mark Juarez of University of Cebu (UC) in 19:22.33, Garry Garcia in 19:33.48 and Jerry Amasa in 19:37.98.

In the women's division, Lumindas-Getaruelas defended her crown with a time of 19:49.19.

Sheena Gacayan of UC wound up second in 19:53.29 and Mary Rose Arman of USPF was third in 20:07.67.

Madelyn Carter clocked 21:27.29 to place fourth, upstaging veteran runner Merlita Arias who was fifth in 21:27.59.

Rounding up the top 10 cast in the women's division were Jennifer Montero (23:50.13), Jovelyn Nisas (24:27.44), Virgie Rodriguez (25:49.75), Cindy Cabajar (26:20.72) and Angelina Barcona in 27:21.84.