Kenyans rule again, De los Santos tops women's 21K of Parklane's Hunat Sugbo 2

CEBU, Philippines - Josaphat Too and Abraham Missos kept Kenya's flag flying high in local running events, while the Cebu-based Zamboangeña Mary Grace de los Santos bagged her third straight 21K women's crown through the Hunat Sugbo 2-Dagan Para Kang Maning organized by the Cebu Parklane International Hotel yesterday at The Terraces of Ayala Center Cebu. Too came out the fastest among the 2,000 plus entries of the annual charity run, clocking in one hour, 12 minutes and 32.42 seconds to lord it over in the 21K men's open division followed by his compatriot Missos in 1:14:51.

Cebu's homegrown talent Adonis Singson, a 'balut' vendor who made his mark in long distance running, placed third in 1:16:54.7 followed by Michael Largo (1:19:35.79) and Joseph Arnel Emia (1:23:09.23).

Rounding up the top 10 placers were Welmar Saavedra (1:26:12.56), Tyler Pickle (1:26:17.66), Roger Saldo (1:26:40.58), Fernando Berbesada (1:29:15.05) and Michael Claudio 1:32:49.29).

In the distaff side, De los Santos cemented her status as the road running queen of Cebu with the time of one hour, 37 minutes and 14.6 seconds. It was her third 21K title in a row after the Run UP High 2 last June 10 and the DYAB Kapamilya Run last June 17.

Cristy Sevilleno-Tutor finished 17 seconds behind De los Santos to grab the second place honors, while Madelyn Carter was a distant third in 1:43:26.71.

Completing the top 10 female finishers were Sandra T. Soliano (1:47:53.41), Liezel Dacayana (1:55:20), Jane Ong (1:57:34.18), Emeralde Hermosilla (1:57:58.9), Abigail Lua (2:00:01.07), Helen Dionson (2:01:16.38) and Abellano Opiza (2:03:23.62).

Riez Enriquez and Merlita Arias-Dunkin, on the other hand, stamped their respective classes in the 12K category. Enriquez topped the men's side in 40 minutes and 50.34 seconds, while Arias-Dunkin ruled the women's bracket in one hours and 54.85 seconds.

Kenyan Francis Kakui finished behind Enriquez in 41:33.75 followed by Alvirg Busa (43:34.71), Desiderio Enbino (48:49.62) and Chris A. Burdette (53:05.96).

Jinggay H. Lugay trailed Dunkin-Arias in 1:06:12.87, while the next three spots were occupied by Doris Nudalo (1:07:41.67), Cecilia Cabahug (1:08.01.07) and Maria Fe Ernane (1:10:14.88)

In the 6K division, Jobert Carolino snared the men's crown 23 minutes and 5.04 seconds followed by Joel L. Oacan (25:22.02) and Kimrel Deiparine (26:00.28), while the top three in the women's side were Lynle Cardenas (27:21.83), Angelie S. Lawas (32:13.36) and Desiree Salas (37:17.31).

The winners in the 3K category were John Cliff Debolosan (9:25), Dave Gallosa (12:06.86) and Almine Wenceslao (12:08.79) in the men's class and Aubrey Marlette Lusanta (15:52.27), Rowena Plarisan (16:01.63) and Jenny Alina (16:19.21) in the women's category.

Held in memory of Parklane Hotel's late president Manuel Go Ting, the technical aspect of the well-organized race was handled by the Sports and Fitness Enthusiasts (SAFE) under Joel Baring. - THE FREEMAN