MANILA, Philippines - Over 12,000 runners are expected to answer the starting gun to be simultaneously fired in the twin elimination legs of the 33rd National Milo marathon in Gen. Santos City and Puerto Princesa City on Sunday.
The centerpiece race in both legs of the country’s premier foot race held in partnership with Bayview Park Manila is the 21K qualifying run where male runners need to finish the race in one hour, 5 minutes to qualify for the grand finale slated Oct. 11 in Metro Manila.
The qualifying time for female 21K runners is 1:35.
The bulk of the participants, however, are fielded in the side events such as the 10K, 5K and 3K races.
The defending champions in the 21K race are Junel Boncit and former Milo Marathon queen Estela Diaz in GenSan and Ruben Samuya and Ira dela Rosa in the island province of Palawan.
Invited to fire the starting gun in the country’s Tuna Capital on Marist Avenue in front of Notre Dame of Dadiangas University are Mayor Jun Acharon, Vice Mayor Florentina Congson, Councilors Jane Calunsag and Meggy Santos.
Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn, on the other hand, is expected to fire off the runners at the Mendoza Park at 5:30 a.m. for the 21K elimination run.
The 10K, 5K, and 3K side events will be flagged off in succession starting at 6 a.m.
Also featured on Sunday is the inter-school cheer-dance competition, which has become one of the major attractions in the Milo Marathon.