Sibayan, who ruled the Davao City leg last year, failed to finish in the Davao City race last July 3. He decided to join yesterday’s elimination run and ended the two-year reign of Genovevo "Junjun"Azarcon.
"Malakas si Sibayan, hinahabol ko siya pero di talaga maabutan," said Azarcon of Sibayan. "Pero at least nag-qualify pa rin ako sa finals."
Sibayan, a criminology student of University of Mindanao in Davao City, finished the race in one hour, nine minutes and 35 seconds. Azarcon, despite improving his personal time yesterday, settled for second place at 1:12:07.
"Nagkaroon kasi ako ng injury noong Davao leg kaya naisipan kong dito na lang sa Butuan mag-qualify," said Sibayan, who is from Maragusan, Compostela Valley.
Marlon Bolivar of Cagayan de Oro City placed third at 1:16:30.
The top three finishers in the men’s and women’s 21K races are qualified to run in the national finals on Dec.10 in Metro Manila.
Madamba, on the other hand, had to push herself to the limit to edge 20-year-old Mary Rose Arman at the endline.
Arman grabbed the lead early in the women’s race but the 29-year-old Madamba, who has won every Milo Marathon leg she has joined since 1997, caught up with the younger runner with two kilometers left in the race.
"Akala ko matatalo na ako," said Madamba, who topped the Butuan City leg in 2004 but skipped the races last year. "Nung maabutan ko siya at nakita kong medyo pagod na, binuhos ko na hanggang sa finish line."
Madamba breasted the tape in 1:34:40. Arman came in 12 seconds later.
Catherine Matunhay, 18, of Nabunturan placed third at 1:44:37.
Yesterday’s event, held in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel-Manila, Adidas, Cebu Pacific, Department of Tourism and Powerbar, drew 3,885 participants in the 21K, 5K and Kiddies 3K races.
The top three finishers in the 5K race were Euven Facundo (16:44), Paul John Beduya (17:04) and Aris Bautista (17:45) in the men’s and Jennifer Saguran (21:33), Katt Christine Aclo (21:50) and Shanalie Aclo (23:38) in the distaff side.
The winners in the Kiddies age-group event were Neil Tanquilan and Rhea Ann Boladaco in the 6-9 years old category and Roldan Dojo and Vanessa Casia in the 10-12 group.
On Sunday, the country’s biggest and longest-running foot race holds its elimination races in Iloilo City.