Fetalvero undisputed 10K champ: Buenavista tops DZMM takbo

MANILA, Philippines - There were no surprises in the 10th annual DZMM Takbo Para Sa Kalikasan yesterday at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

Last year’s 10K champions Eduardo Buenavista and Mercedita Manipol-Fetalvero reigned supreme anew in the Hall-of-Fame category of the race held for the purpose of rehabilitating and preserving the La Mesa Watershed.

Buenavista found some resistance early in the race but pulled away for good three kilometers into the race to claim the cash prize of P5,000, a trophy and other perks. The two-time Olympian marathoner finished the course in 31 minutes and 20 seconds.

Former champion Alley Quisay came in second in 32:04 and Bernardo Desamito Jr. third in 33:09.

Fetalvero, on the other hand, remained undisputed in the women’s 10K races as she remained unbeaten on Philippine soil since 1998.

She clocked 36:16 and took home the same prizes as Buenavista.

Maricel Maquilan and Ailene Tolentino came in second and third, respectively.

For the first time in 10 years, organizers had separated the country’s premier runners in the Hall-of-Fame category to give more chances to other 10K runners to shine and win awards.

Topping the regular 10K race was Darwin Lee who clocked 33:33. He was followed by veteran runner Reynaldo delos Reyes at 34:29 and Art Thomas Fronda at 36:00.

The top three finishers in the distaff side were Ana Vargas (43:22), Mirasol Abad (45:31) and Janette Lumidao (45:40).

The winners in the 5K race were Ben Alejandrino (16:19), Christopher Ulboc (16:20) and Crifrankreadel Indapan (16:25) in the men’s and Liza Yambao (21:38), Hazel Madamba (23:06) and Merlyn Lumagbas (24:14) in the women’s.

A record field of 4,000 runners participated in the benefit race yesterday, including Vice President Noli de Castro and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who both ran in the 3K event.

Special awards were also given to the 83-year-old Felix Belarmino (oldest male finisher), 70-year-old Cleo Elmedolan (oldest female finisher), Ben Alejandrino (first male student finisher) and Dorothy Siy (first female student finisher).

The biggest contingent plums went to San Miguel Corporation (non-government organizations), Philhealth (government) and ABS-CBN CC (ABS-CBN divisions).