Babiera, Gilbuena gain Milo run grand finals

MANILA, Philippines - Anthony Babiera of Himamaylan City and Miscelle Gilbuena clinched the last berths in the national finals of the 33rd National Milo Marathon as they topped their respective divisions in the final elimination race of the country’s longest-running marathon in Dumaguete City last Sunday.

Babiera, who also ruled the Iloilo leg last year, clocked one hour, 15 minutes and 24 seconds in the 21k race to claim his second leg championship. He won P10,000, a Milo marathon glass trophy and an all-expense paid round-trip ticket to the grand finals slated Oct. 11 in Metro Manila.

Bonifacio Monjas (1:16:56) and Rohildo Iso (1:18:17) placed second and third and received P6,000 and P4,000, respectively.

Gilbuena turned in a 1:34:19 clocking to rule the distaff side and make the women’s qualifying time of 1:35:00 in the event held in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel-Manila and the Department of Tourism.

Gilbuena later said she trained hard for this race because she wants to run the finals again. She placed third here last year with a clocking of 1:44:56.

Settling for second and third place honors in the women’s side were Mareeis Ramirez (1:42:55) and Sharon Vega (1:47:34).

Topping the 10K side events were Jorry Ycong (35:49) in the men’s and Monica Cuizon (50:24) in the women’s while the 5K winners were Jeyrick Omiping (17:33) and Mylen Catigan (21:49) while the 3K run for kids was won by 11-year-old Jonel Teberio (11:00) and 12-year-old Louielyn Pamatian (12:43).

The 33rd National Milo Marathon had 26 elimination races that kicked off last Feb. 8 with simultaneous races in Dipolog City and Subic Freeport Zone.