CEBU, Philippines - Joery Lee finally savored the victory she long waited by reigning the women’s open in the 2010 Planet Sports Run while Simon Losiaboi had an easy triumph in the men’s side at the Ayala Center-Cebu’s Terraces yesterday.
Lee had been running perhaps even she could even fluently talk and now that’s she’s already a teenager, she still continues to look for her spot in the limelight.
Observers and local followers of road running here feel Lee had long been worn out having been pushed by her parents to run on a very young age, yet, she has never stopped running.
The Toledo City-native have been a consistent in at least the top 5 in most running events here, but have not reigned the premiere class.
Although, Mary Grace de los Santos, the reigning Road Running Queen of Cebu is out of the picture yesterday, Lee’s victory still came out sweet as she was able to beat another veteran runner, Sharon Vega for the top spot with her time of 42 minutes and 31.21 seconds.
Vega’s time was 44:16.04 while Meriees Ramirez placed third with 44:29.29.
In the men’s premiere class, Losiaboi collected another champion’s trophy with a clocking of 32:54.62 while Alvir Busa continues to improve landing second this time with his 34:23.02 and Jobert Carolino was at third spot with 35:01.82.
On the other hand, Joel Delposo dominated anew in the 5-k run clocking 16:38.19 and he was followed by Jess Gonzaga with 16:41.88 while Rico Roquite on third place with 18:50.49.
Aiza Suwaybaguio topped the women’s 5-k action with 20:49.45 while
Melinda Ponce settled for second with her 25:26.13 clocking and Virginia Parajenog on third with a time of 26:31.59.
Jorry Ycong prevailed in a tightly-contested men’s 3-k race.
Ycong crossed the finish line with a time of 8:44.46. At second was Robert Daang with 8:52.73 and Ian Bernido placed third with 8:56.15.
In the distaff side, Lorna Olarita also had a neck-to-neck run for the top post against Pearl Beronia with the former placing first with 11:02.07 and Beronia ending second with 11:44.04 as Kresha Mae Ygot wound up third with 12:09.75.
In another development, Mary Grace de los Santos may have missed another title here, she was able to make a remarkable performance abroad after placing second in the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon’s 21-k action also yesterday. – THE FREEMAN