Milo marathon up in Manila, Cebu

MANILA, Philippines - The 33rd National MILO Marathon resumes its nationwide search for the country’s top long-distance runners July 5 with simultaneous elimination legs in Cebu City and Metro Manila.

Milo AVP for Milo sports Pat Goc Ong said he is expecting over 40,000 runners in both races.

The qualifying time for 21K races in Cebu and the other provincial legs is one hour, 15 minutes for men and 1:35 for women.

The Metro Manila eliminationis a full 42.195-kilometer marathon and will have a qualifying time of four hours for men and 4:30 for women.

The qualifiers advance to the 42K national finals Oct. 11 at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

National race organizer Rudy Biscocho said cut off time for the 42K qualifying run in Manila is five hours while cut off time for the 21K provincial qualifying race is 2:30.

Also on tap in both legs on Sunday are the side events such as the 3K kiddie run, 5K fun run, 10K race and the inter-school cheer-dance competition. In Metro Manila, the 21K half marathon has also been added.

A total cash purse of P240,000 is at stake in Cebu City while P590,000 shall be given away to the winners in Metro Manila including P30,000 each to the top male and female 42K finisher.

There will also be an inter-school team running competition and the biggest delegation competition in both legs.

The 33rd National MILO Marathon started last February with races held in Subic and Dipolog last February 8; Iligan and Batangas on February 15; and General Santos and Palawan on February 22.

After this Sunday’s races, the country’s biggest and longest-running marathon held in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel-Manila and the Department of Tourism holds weekly events in Davao and Tarlac on July 12; Butuan and Santiago City on July 19; Cagayan de Oro and Laoag on July 26; Tacloban and San Fernando, La Union on August 2; Tagbilaran and Baguio on August 9; Roxas City and Dagupan on August 16; Iloilo and Legaspi on August 23; Bacolod and Naga on August 30; and Dumaguete and San Pablo on September 6.

Registration in Metro Manila ends on June 30, 2009.