CEBU - It’s all systems go for the 2nd Cebu Sinulog Half – Marathon that fires off on January 17 at the Asiatown IT Park. After deliberating whether to move the race, due to time constraints, the Cebu Executive Runners Club, organizers of the race decided to stick with the same week as the Sinulog Festival in order to give out-of-towners a chance to witness the world – class festival.
The race is sanctioned by the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA). Cebu’s marathon queen Leszl Gitaruelas and Davao’s top runner Elmer Bartolo are the defending champions with a clocking of 1 hour 28 minutes and 21 seconds and 1 hour, 10 minutes and 20.65 seconds respectively. This year’s field will be tougher with former Milo Marathon national record holder Cresenciano Sabal and Zamboanga’s Mary Grace Delos Santos confirming their participation. Bartolo and Gitaruelas will likewise defend their titles.
Providing stiff competition are long distance runners from Negros Occidental, Rene Desuyo, Eric Panique and Jerson Agravante, Bukidnon’s Crifrankreadel Indapan and local bets Mendel Lopez, Eugene and Joel Delposo and Cebu’s fast – rising runner John Philip Dueñas of Southwestern University.
In the distaff side, Milo Marathon Cebu leg champion Madelyn Carter, Mary Jane Beboso, Merlita Arias, Michelle Gilbuena, Katie Fischer and Emily Chiongbian, are the seeded runners expected to slug it out for top honors. A 5 kilometer run will likewise be staged.
Prizes
In our meeting last Sunday, the prizes committee headed by 2008 Los Angeles Marathon veteran Steve Ferraren, announced the proposed cash prizes. The champions in both male and female division will receive P10,000, the second placers P7,000 and the third placers P5,000, Fourth placers will pocket P2,000 while the fifth placers will receive P1,000. All winners will receive trophies and medals. In the 5 kilometer side event, the champions in both male and female divisions will receive P3,000, the second placers P2,000 and the third placers P1,000. Participants in the 21K half marathon will receive T-shirts while those in the 5K run are assured of singlets. The second Sinulog Marathon is sponsored by Mizuno, Cathay Pacific and Waterfresh Drinking Water. Registration fee for the 21K Marathon is P250.00 and P150.00 in the 5K. Registration is now ongoing at the Philippine Sports Commission Office at the Cebu City Sports Center and at the Sug-angan Restaurant at J. Llorente St.
More Running In 2009
It looks like there’s no stopping the running events in Cebu this year, not even the global crisis. After the Sinulog Marathon, there are already 3 races scheduled until February. I don’t know if Joe Deresas will stage his 12K bridge to bridge run this January. But on February 8, Dr. Peter Mancao will hold the World Heart’s Day Run. This will be followed by the Rotary Run on February 15 at the Ayala Business Center. Late November, during the MOVE Heroes Run, at Parkmall, Andrew Jimenez of Rotary West already asked me to direct the Run that will be participated in by all the Rotary Clubs in Cebu. We will soon negotiate with Ayala management if we could use the Terraces as awarding venue. By the way, I won’t be joining the World’s Heart Day Run as I will be running together with the Guardo brothers in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon. This will be my first marathon after 15 years. I never intended to run a full marathon again but Atan Guardo already registered me and even gave me a plane ticket to Hong Kong. Actually, I’ve run Hong Kong four times but it was only in the 10K category where I paced one-legged triathlete Rudy Fernandez of Iloilo City. Team Guardo also include Sambag I Barangay captain Jerry Guardo, Tisa councilor Jeson Guardo, former Tinago Barangay captain Joel Garganera and Allan Delantar. Leszl Gitaruelas, Millette Chiongbian and Haide Acuña are likewise running in the marathon.
Milestone
Happy Birthday to pretty Robinsons Place Supermarket cashier Harilyn Fernin who turns a year older today.