Herrera, Madamba top 1st leg

Rene Herrera, an obscure runner from Iloilo, won the Metro Manila qualifier of the Milo Marathon yesterday, besting a lean field to advance to the national finals on his very first try.

"Target ko lang ay makapasok sa top 3. Pacing lang dahil first time ko dito at baka kapusin. Sinundan ko lang yung nasa una, tapos sa last kilometer ako bumakbak," said the 22-year-old Herrera, who clocked 2:41.58 over the 42-km run that started and ended at the PICC grounds.

He beat Rolando Cedullo for the top P30,000 prize.

Cedullo, who works for running priest Fr. Robert Reyes, lost steam in the closing stages and settled for second in 2:42.24 worth P20,000.

Ronald Despi bucked a foot injury to finish third, also in 2:42.24. He took home P10,000.

National race organizer Rudy Biscocho said the next regional race will be held July 8 in Davao City.

While a first-timer ruled the men’s side, a veteran campaigner lorded it over the field in the distaff side as Hazel Madamba bagged the top honors in 3:28.58 and won the top purse of P30,000.

Romblon’s Mila Robiso-Paje, 36, chased Baguio bet Flordeliza Cahero to snatch second place in 3:30.07. Cahero settled for third in 3:32.48 followed by Annalisa Yambao (3:52.19) and triathlete Cathy Grebert (3:56.19).

The Milo-sponsored event, which marked the first time that a qualifier is staged over full marathon, drew more than 6,000 runners, the bulk of which were entered in the 5K run, plus the 10K with defending Milo national champion Christable Martes ruling the women’s division in 43:06 while Melchor Mirasol won the men’s side in 37:31.

The 5K run champions were Jose Agura (18:07) and teener Sealand Agana (23:21).

"We had a good field and there were even a lot foreign entries while the youth once again responded to make this run successful," said Milo sports executive Jackby Jaime.