Herrera, Martes top Crocs run

MANILA, Philippines - National team mainstays Rene Herrera and Christabel Martes reigned in the rain as they ruled their respective divisions in the 10k race of the Crocs Prepair To Run at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City yesterday.

The 30-year-old Herrera, back-to-back gold medal winner in steepchase in the 2005 and 2007 SEA Games, clocked 29:32 as he nipped Cresenciano Sabal for top honors in the event sponsored by Crocs, Inc., with All Condition Gear Philippines, Inc. (ACGPI), the exclusive distributor of crocstm in the country.

Sabal, also a veteran campaigner, checked in at 29:41 for second while Darwin Lim turned in a 29:47 clocking to finish third in the three-category event which drew more than a thousand runners.

Martes, also a SEAG and Asian Games veteran and many-time winner in the annual Milo marathon, topped the ladies side of the 10k race, clocking 34:12 to beat Aileen Tolentino, who came in at 36:07.

Marecel Maquilan also timed 36:07 to finish third in the event backed by Summit, 100+, Alaska, Rudy Project, Solar Sports, The Philippine STAR, Philstar.com, Action & Fitness Sports Magazine and Rogue Magazine.

Nelbert Ducusin turned in a 16:26 clocking to capture the 5k title in the men’s division while Mercedita Manipol topped the ladies side in 18:22.

The top finishers in the 10k took P5,000 each while the winners in the 5k and 3k received P4,000 and P3,000 each, respectively, from ACGPI vice president Franco Limjuco during awards rites.

Mervin Guark was timed 16:27 to place second in the men’s 5k while Art Thomas Fronda checked in third in 17:26 while Nhea Ann Barcena (20:51) and Angelica Gajulen (31:04 finished second and third, respectively, in the ladies category of the event also held to raise funds for WE International Philippines, an organization that gives medical, educational and other assistance to the children of Smokey Mountain.

Patrick Gongob ruled the men’s 3k in 8:41, beating Ferdinand Corpoz (8:43) and Jowett Jowett (11:07) while Mary Ann dela Cruz dominated the distaff side in 8:43. Cheryl Tolentino came in second in 12:40 while Dhes Cabero finished third in 15:38.