CEBU, Philippines - The Maasin City Forest Park, the site of Maasin City Zoo and venue of the Maasin Zoo Trail Camp and Run, was filled by runners and campers from all walks of life last August 12. The day before people kept on coming to fetch their tents and get together. One the eve of the run, a holy mass was celebrated and a live band played to give entertainment to the campers. A fireworks display highlighted the occasion to give a sight to behold for the old and the young.
There was a rain an hour before the start of the race but it subsided just in time for the stretching exercises. Hundreds of runners lined up at the starting line to answer the starting gun. Fifty five runners joined the 10-kilometer run which looped around the roads of the tree park for three kilometers then headed towards the forests for the muddy trail and moved to the direction of the main road before finally negotiating route back to the forest park for the finish line.
More than 600 runners also joined the three-kilometer run which covered the road encircling the city forest park. There were kids who also joined the 500-meter kiddie run.
Francis Kakui of Kenya based in Cebu City won the 10K trail run for the men’s category with a time of 33:47.93. Another Kenyan Eliud Kering based in Tagaytay City finished second with 33:59.74. At third place was Jobert Carolino of Cebu City (34:04.53), fourth was Emmanuel Comendador of Bohol (34:14.54), fifth was Bonifacio Monjas of Baybay City (36:17.10), sixth was Dionisio Belmonte of Ormoc City (36:59.03), seventh was Charlie Berberio of Maasin City (38:39.40), eighth was Piniel Tajos of Ormoc City (39:58.40), ninth was Nicito Lumay of Bohol (40:03.15) and 10th was Jason Patendol of Baybay City (41:14.72).
In the 10K women’s category, Madelyn Carter of Cebu City was the first to cross the finish with a time of 47:42.88. Second was Michelle Arfon of Ormoc City (49:48.16), third was Merlita Dunkin of Summit Drinking Water Company (50:38.00), fourth was Rudith Oliave of Ormoc City (54:16.62), fifth was Jessa Mae Estrada of Ormoc City (58:45.35), sixth was Ruby Nicanor of Maasin City (59:06.05), seventh was Maribeth Akol of Tomas Oppus, So. Leyte (1:04:45.69), eighth was Sharin Thea Cabal of Cebu City (1:10:25), ninth was Marvie Pajao of Maasin City (1:20:20.09) and tenth was Jopalin Jones of Maasin City (1:21:44.38).
In the 3K men’s category the top three winners were: first – Enrico Ramos (Maasin), second – Jeffrey Bellota (Maasin), and third – Romaniko Lazara (Hilongos, Leyte). In the 3k women’s category the top three winners were: first – Christine Fernandez (Maasin), second – Ana Elizabeth Finley (Maasin), and third – Claudia Matter (Switzerland).
Cash prizes were given to the top 10 finishers in all categories of the 10K and for the top 3 men and women in the 3K. Medals were awarded to all 10K finishers. Later, the runners viewed the animals inside the city zoo such as lions, tigers, camels, crocodiles, tarsiers, monkeys, pythons, birds and others. The event was sponsored by the city government in connection with the 12th Charter Day and City Fiesta. (FREEMAN)