There were no surprises in the ninth DZMM Takbo Para Sa Kalikasan 10K run yesterday at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
Two-time Olympian Eduardo Buenavista of Sultan Kudarat topped the men’s division while Mercedita Manipol-Fetalvero of Romblon captured her eighth title in this annual advocate race for the rehabilitation of the La Mesa Watershed.
Buenavista trailed last year’s winner Rene Herrera in the early part of the race but took over the lead for good three kilometers into the race.
After topping the inaugural race nine years ago, Buenavista missed the next seven stagings of the DZMM race but more than made up for it by winning yesterday’s race with a clocking of 31 minutes and six seconds. He pocketed P10,000 for the win.
Bernardo Desamito Jr. (31:46) placed second and took home P6,000. Herrera (32:29) settled for third place and the P4,000 purse.
The distaff side was a no-contest in favor of Fetalvero, who has not lost a 10K race on Philippine soil since 1998. She, however, failed to join the DZMM race two years ago.
Fetalvero, who already has five first place trophies in various races this year, finished yesterday’s race in 36:25. Her nearest rivals were Ailene Tolentino, who crossed the finish line three minutes and 24 seconds behind, and Emma Magango, who was four minutes and five seconds behind.