And after a one year absence from hosting this annual event, a record crowd of more than 2,200 3K, 5K and 10K runners from the islands of Negros, Panay, and Guimaras showed up at the starting line.
Julius Sermona, 23, a native of Binalbagan in southern Negros, and a finalist in the 1998 Milo national finals won in 35:24 to earn another slot in the 42K finals in Manila this December while high school student Marigen Campos from the Filamer Christian College in Roxas City won the womens race but forfeited her slot to the finals because of her age.