Buenavista holds fort vs Kenyan invaders

MANILA, Philippines –  Two-time champion Eduardo Buenavista and newcomer Flordeliza Donos put a stop on the Kenyan’s domination of local races as they topped their respective divisions in the 34th National Milo Marathon finals at an out-and-back course at the Quirino Grandstand yesterday.

Determined to protect and defend his “turf” against foreign invaders, the 2002 and 2008 titlist Buenavista charged out of the starting line in full speed and kept his pace the rest of the way to beat a slew of fancied Kenyan runners in Willy Tanui, William Kipyego and Abraham Missos.

The 4-11 Buenavista finished the 42.195 kilometer race in two hours, 24 minutes, 18 seconds, checking in some 500 meters and four minutes ahead of six-footer Tanui, a many-time local race champ (2:29:00,) to cop the men’s title.

EARLY DASH FOR GLORY: Young stars, wearing shorts and having fun, break into the lead in the kiddies run, side event of the Milo National Marathon. JUN MENDOZA

“It was really my plan to break away early to find out who my toughest rivals would be. But no one tried to pursue me so I kept going until the end,” Buenavista, who came off a disappointing 17th place in last month’s Asian Games, said in Filipino.

Tanui’s compatriot, Kipyego, checked in third at 2:30:19 while 2006 champion Julius Sermona ended up fourth at 2:30:41 and Anthony Nerza was fifth at 2:30:43. Missos failed to keep in step, lost steam and settled for eighth with 2:36:06.

Donos made it a double celebration for Phl runners, getting her second wind in the final 15 kilometers to parry the challenge of Kenyan Susan Jemutai and Cebuana Mary Joy Tabal.

A BS criminology graduate at the University of Baguio, Donos breasted the tape in 3:05:07 while Jemutai came in at 3:07:52 and Mary Joy Tabal reached home in 3:08:38.

Buenavista and Donos each received P300,000 for their feats in the annual event which gathered the top finishers in the nationwide elims.