Cebuano runners all set for Hong Kong marathon

In an unprecedented event in Cebu road running history, 15 Cebuano footracers will see action in one of the world’s biggest marathon events, the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2008, set this Sunday starting at the Ntahan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui and ending at the HK’s famous Victoria Park.

Nine of the 15-man Cebu contingent will take part in the Full Marathon covering a lung-busting distance of 42 kilometers. They are Drs. Vic Verallo, Albert Santos, Yong Larrazabal, and Nicole Chua along with Jesse Taborada, Meyrick Jacalan, Ted Tecson, Serge Amora, and John Pages.

Larrazabal, who joined last year’s prestigious New York Marathon alongsie Dr. Peter Mancao, gears up for his fourth Full Marathon race. Mancao opted to participate in 21km this time.

Cebu’s “Queen of the Road” Leiszl Getaruelas, on the other hand, will be at the forefront of the team’s campaign in the 21km division. She will compete together with Drs. Mancao and Pons del Prado, and Tony del Prado.

Getaruelas is the Queen City of the South’s brightest bet to make waves in the women’s 21km action.

Getaruelas recorded her personal best of one hour and 24 minutes in the Mizuno Shell Sinulog Half-Marathon last January 19, exactly the same time posted by Japanese Nakamuna Koniko in topping the women’s 21km race in last year’s HK Marathon.

Completing the Cebu delegation to the keenly-awaited running spectacle are the multi-titled Mendel Lopez and Perl Jacalan, who are out to give their foreign rivals a run for their money in the 10km division.

Of the Cebuano entries, nothing perhaps beats the excitement of John Z. Pages, the newly-elected president of Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC) who will test his athletic limits for the first time in a  full-marathon competition.

“I’m very excited because I kept on training for the past six months. In marathon, you need to have much time for preparation. I and a few have been training gradually and I think we’re ready,” said the tennis guru-turned running buff.

Conservative as he is, Pages said his main goal in his so-called ‘baptism of fire’ in marathon is to reach the finish line in four hours and a half.

“My goal is to finish the race in four and a half hours. That would be a really good accomplishment. Anything better than that would be very good already,” said Pages.

Sanctioned by the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association, the Standard Chartered tilt offers over US$70,000 in cash prizes for Full Marathon.In addition, trophies will be given to the first three winners in each category for the 10km Challenge and Half Marathon.

Certificates will also be awarded and sent to runners by post who finish within the specified time limits.