Milo simul races Sunday in Bicol, Western Visayas

MANILA, Philippines - The 33rd National Milo Marathon returns to Bicol and Western Visayas on Sunday for another simultaneous staging of elimination races.

More than 10,000 are expected to join the 21K qualifying run, the 10K side event, the 5K fun run and the 3K race for kids 7 to 12 years old in both races in Naga and Bacolod.

Last Sunday’s races in Iloilo and Legazpi drew over 12,000 participants.

At stake in the 21K race are P10,000 for first place, an elegant glass trophy and slots in the national finals on Oct. 11 in Metro Manila.

The qualifying time for men is one hour, 15 minutes while the qualifying time for women is 1:35.

The bulk of the participants, however, will compete in the 5K fun run, which features an inter-school team running competition and the biggest delegation contest.

Also on hand during the early morning festivities of this annual event held in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel-Manila and the Department of Tourism is the inter-school cheer-dance competition which has become one of the most anticipated and most-watched portions of the Milo Marathon.

The Bacolod leg is being organized by the sports office of the University of St. La Salle headed by Malot Lozada and assisted by coordinators Efren Timtiman and Roger Banzuela. The Naga City leg is now being organized by the office of the City Mayor.

In Bacolod City, Gov. Isidro Zayco and Vice Gov. Dino Yulo have been invited to award the prizes at the awarding rites, which will start at 7 a.m.

PSC commissioner Eric Loretizo has also been invited to fire the starting gun for the 21K qualifying run. Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia will fire the starting gun for the 10K, 5K, and 3K side events.

Meanwhile in Naga City, Mayor Jesse Robredo will fire the starting gun for the qualifying run at 5:30 a.m. City councilors start off the 10K, 5K, and 3K run.

Six runners qualified to the national finals during last week’s races: Jeson Agravante, Roger Denolo, Adonis Lubaton and Alvin Villanueva in Iloilo City and Mario Maglinao and Ramie Lacson in Legazpi City.