Bolivar, Yambao rule Milo marathon

LUCENA CITY — Alquin Bolivar and 2003 marathon queen Liza Yambao encountered little resistance in topping the 21K elimination race of the 30th National Milo Marathon here at the Perez Park.

Bolivar, a criminology student of La Salle-Dasmariñas in Cavite, clocked at one hour, 13 minutes and 42 seconds to claim his first Milo Marathon leg title.

"Last year pa dapat ako tumakbo ng 21K pero naubusan ako ng slot," said the 20-year-old Bolivar, who topped the 5K race in Lipa City last year. "Paghahandaan ko naman ngayon ang 42K."

Bolivar and the rest of the top three finishers in the men’s and women’s races will advance to the 42K national finals in Metro Manila on Dec. 10.

Placing second and third were Ben Alejandrino (1:15:54) and Ereneo Raquimpo (1:17:55).

Yambao, meanwhile, dominated the distaff side with the time of 1:34:10.

"Sa Manila (qualifying race) uli sana ako tatakbo ngayon kaya lang kailangan ko ng panggastos dahil graduating po ako ngayon," said Yambao, a graduating commerce student of University of Santo Tomas.

The 42K elimination race in Metro Manila on July 16 offers a bigger purse of P30,000 to the champion. The 42K national finals, also held in Manila, has a cash purse of P75,000 to the champion. The Milo Marathon is held in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel-Manila, Adidas, Cebu Pacific and Powerbar.

Bolivar and Yambao pocketed P10,000 each for winning the 21K race yesterday.

Finishing at far second in the women’s race was veteran Mila Paje.

"Nung iniwan na kami ni Liza, hindi ko na siya hinabol dahil alam ko namang hindi ko siya kaya e," said Paje.

Placing third was 19-year-old Corazon Salcedo, an education student of La Salle-Dasma who needed to win yesterday to pay for her tuition fees.

"Baka po kasi hindi ako makapag-finals," Salcedo said.

The top three finishers in the 5K race were Jerome Beredo (16:51), Jessie Mancera (17:13) and Argel delos Santos (17:30) in the men’s and Bernadette Mag-aso (18:58), Jove-an Barcena (22:26) and Lyrio Gregana (22:34) in the women’s side.

The winners in the 3K kiddies race were John Sarinas and Eddielyn Ramos in the 6-9 age group and Mark Anthony Alemania and Rachelle Aranilla in the 10-12 category.

More than 1,500 runners participated in the races yesterday.