The event, which attracted more than 2,300 runners, mostly 3K kiddie run and 5K fun run participants, was fired off by Councilor Manny Legaspi from the Cebu City Sports Complex where the race started and ended.
Penales, 22, a senior industrial tech student from the Central Visayas State College and a native of Dawis, Bohol, shadowed early leader and Cebu bet Tirso Pamaybay practically the whole race and made his move only in the last kilometer to win his first Milo Marathon regional race in 1:07:59.
"Sinabayan ko lang si Tirso tapos binakbakan ko sa last kilometer. Pangarap ko talaga makatakbo sa Milo Marathon finals," said Penales.