BACOLOD CITY , Philippines – Eric Panique of Himamaylan City and Ben Alejandrino of E.B. Magalona in Negros Occidental advanced to grand finals of the 33rd National MILO Marathon here on Sunday.
Panique clocked an impressive time of one hour, 12 minutes and 55 seconds in claiming his fourth leg championship in this foot race held in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel-Manila and the Department of Tourism.
“I put up a good time because of tough rivals,” said the 25-year-old Panique, referring to the 23-year-old Alejandrino.
Alejandrino, a former varsity athlete of University of Santo Tomas, actually took the early lead in the men’s 21-kilometer qualifying race. Panique only caught up with Alejandrino after the turnaround point of the race.
He pulled away for good three kilometers away from the finish line.
“I lost steam,” said Alejandrino, who also placed second in his only other participation in the MILO Marathon held in Lucena City in 2006.
Panique completed the 21K course in one hour, 12 minutes and 55 seconds to pocket the P10,000 cash prize and the first place trophy. Alejandrino, meanwhile, clocked in at 1:13:16 for second place and the P6,000 purse.
The qualifying time for the men is 1:15:00.
Third placer Joel Alcorin of Escalante, Negros Occidental came in at 1:20:24 and failed to advance to the finals slated on Oct. 11 in Metro Manila. He, however, received the P4,000 prize for third place and a trophy.
No runner had qualified in the women’s race.
In the absence of a real threat, Meriam Miranda of Victorias City clocked more than five minutes over the qualifying time of 1:35:00 but claimed her third straight leg title.
Placing second and third were Allyn Grace Salas and Marivic Banate.
Sunday’s race in Bacolod was simultaneously held with the Naga City leg where David Madera and Luisa Raterta captured the men’s and women’s 21K race title.
The country’s biggest and longest-running foot race winds up its elimination races come Sunday with simultaneous races in Dumaguete and San Pablo City.