Zamboanga City hosts Milo marathon Sunday

Zamboanga City and Dipolog City have long been calling for Milo Marathon organizers to bring the country’s biggest and longest-running foot race to Western Mindanao.

This year, in celebration of its 30th anniversary, the Milo Marathon finally holds elimination races in Zamboanga City on Sunday and in Dipolog City Nov. 12.

Runners in the region can now have a chance to qualify to the national finals right in their area.

This Sunday’s race in the City of Flowers is expected to draw 5,000 runners in the 21K qualifying race, 5K fun run and the 3K event for children 12 years old and below.

The top 10 finishers in all three racing events will receive trophies, medals and cash prizes amounting to P159,600. Milo jackets, caps, basketballs and a cell phone will also be raffled off to the public on race day.

Mayor Celso Lobregat has been invited by local organizer Pedro Alfaro to fire the starting gun at 6 a.m. at the Joaquin Enriquez Sports Complex.

Aside from the regular races, this Sunday’s early morning festivities include an inter-school cheer-dance competition, the inter-school running competition and the biggest-delegation contest.

The national finals, held in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel-Manila, Adidas, Cebu Pacific, Department of Tourism and Powerbar, is slated on Dec. 10 in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, Milo Marathon sports executive Pat Goc-ong and national race director Rudy Biscocho are still studying when the Legazpi City leg will be reset.

Last Sunday’s race slated in the Queen City of Southern Luzon was postponed due to the devastation left by super typhoon Milenyo.

It was the second time an elimination leg was reset under the helm of Goc-ong and Biscocho. The first one was during the Oakwood mutiny in Metro Manila in July 2003.

The 30th season of the Milo Marathon holds 30 legs all in key cities all over the archipelago.