Vegetable grower picks up Milo win in the rain

BAGUIO, Philippines – Jerry Lindawan showed his peers he is Baguio’s king of the hill as he won yesterday’s Baguio leg of the 33rd National Milo Marathon elimination with consummate ease at Burnham Park.

Showing superior strength despite limited training because of his work as a vegetable grower, Lindawan negotiated the 21k course in 1:15.38 to gain a trip ticket to the finals where he and other provincial qualifiers will challenge reigning champion Eduardo Buenavista for the top prize of P75,000.

“Malakas ang ulan at malamig. Hindi ko ininda dahil gusto kong manalo at makatakbo uli sa finals,” said the 25-year-old Lindawan, who pocketed P10,000.

Lindawan became the only runner to qualify as the rest of the participants, including second and third placers Hernane Sore (1:17.22) and Julius Bay-An (1:22.40) failed to meet the qualifying standard.

Sore challenged Lindawan in the first five kilometers but could not keep pace, enabling the 25-year-old Benguet native to cross the finish line all by his lonesome.

“Malakas si Lindawan. Hindi ko kayang sabayan yun bilis niya,” said Sore, 26, a criminology graduate at the University of Baguio.

Women’s champion Mary Sugot also did no tqualify for the finals, her clocking of 1:36.55,   a minute below the 1:35 qualifying mark. She consoled herself with the top prize of P10,000.

Rowena Francisco came in second in 1:43.11 while Sandi Abahan was third in 1:43.35.

The 10K winners were Cesar Castaneto (36.33) and Flordeliza Donos (41.20), who was way ahead of Marychell Morales (49.55).

Castillo supervised the race in lieu of Milo sports executive Pat Goc-Ong who was supervising the Tagbilaran leg which also run simultaneously with the Baguio leg.

More than 4,000 runners competed in the Baguio edition held in partnership with the Department of Tourism and Bay View Park Hotel Manila.

Hostilities resume this Sunday in Dagupan and Roxas City with close to 6,000 runners expected to participate in both races.