Kenyans score near sweep in Subic run

SUBIC , Philippines  — Last night’s Smart Subic International Marathon looked like a tryout for the Kenyan national team.

Except for two Filipinos who finished in ninth and 10th places, the Kenyans, with some world-class history behind them, made a clear sweep of the 42-km race that was flagged off late in the afternoon and had the runners covering the latter part of the route under cover of darkness.

Vincent Chepsiror, a 29-year-old winner of the 2007 Standard Charter Marathon in Nairobi, ran a very good race, and crossed the finish at the Remy Field of this former American naval base like he’s ready to go another extra mile or two. He had a time of two hours 27 minutes 54 seconds.

Chepsiror said he could have submitted a better time if not for the darkness in some areas through the race that had close to a thousand runners answering the gun somewhere in Floridablanca. It was 42 kms of well-paved roads that offered some uphill stretches and slopes as well.

“With the darkness, sometimes we could not see. Sometimes we slowed down because you cannot see. But otherwise there was no obstruction,” said the winner who will bring home $5,000 which he said will help his family improve on their grocery business back home.

Chepsiror said before the race he was more concerned about the heat but as the race went on, he realized that it was the darkness that was to give him some concern. He also cited the lack of water stations, but said that overall it was a good race and that he’d be glad to come back next year.

Willy Rotich, a 19-year-old Kenyan with legs as thin as bamboo poles, came in second with a time of 2:28.14. Like the winner, he said the darkness made the course more challenging, considering that it was the first time that he ran a night marathon.

Rounding up the top eight are Daniel Koringo (2:29.57), Alex Melly (2:30.23), Richard Mutisya (2:30.30), Hillary Kimurai (2:31.51), Vincent Kipchirchir (2:35.58) and David Kipsang (2:37.50). They are all from Kenya, and at the finish line after the race it looked like they were in a local race back home.

Kenya’s Doreen Kitaka, a mother of two, topped the distaff side with a time of 3:01.12, followed by Cecilia Wangui (3:22.53) and Filipina Ailene Tolentino (3:29.01).

Kitaka was the women’s champion in last week’s Quezon City International Marathon where she won the top prize of P300,000. She said her husband and two kids were so happy to learn of her victory when she texted them.

Hernanie Sore, a former member of the RP steeplechase team, was the top Filipino finisher. He clocked 2:40.20, and minutes after crossing the finish he fell to the group, complaining of exhaustion and stiffness in his legs. A Korean physical therapist was on hand to give him the rubdown.

“I was with the group of Kenyans, around eight of them, until the first 15 kilometers. But as the race progressed they just got faster. From there all I wanted was to be the top Filipino finisher,” said Sore, born in South Cotabato, but now a resident of Baguio City.

Alquin Bolivar was the second-best Filipino with a time of 2:40.42.