Mother, daughter steal show from Kenyan champs

MANILA, Philippines - A mother-daughter tandem put on a show, emerging as the biggest toast from the local side even as the Kenyans kept their dominant rule, figuring in another battle royale in the SMDC-Quezon City International Marathon 2012 that started and ended at the Quezon Memorial Circle yesterday.

Luiza Raterta, 31, and her 11-year-old daughter Leonalyn were all smiles at the podium, celebrating one of the classic tales making the well-organized fourth edition of the QCIM an event to remember.

There was Elmer Sabal continuing the family winning tradition and there was the horde of intrepid Kenyan runners reaffirming their reputation as kings and queens of running.

Raterta ran about four extra kilometers after taking the wrong route early in the race but proved to having more than enough energy to win the 42K local event with plenty to spare.

The Sta. Rosa, Laguna native checked in with the second best time of 3:25.31 behind Kenyan Atancha Everlyre who topped the international competition with a clocking of 3:00:28 in the up-and-down route passing the UP campus, the La Mesa Eco-Park and back to the QC Circle.

The younger Raterta made her mother proud in finishing third behind Catherine Bristol and Nerizza Sumaria in the 5K run.

“She’s also fallen in love with running. And here she is with me, getting an early Christmas gift for our family,” said Luiza, a multi-titled runner married to another runner Leodegario.

Luiza earned P30,000 while Leonalyn pocketed P3,000. The older Raterta could have brought home a richer prize had she entered in the international event instead.

Everlyre won P75,000 for first-place honors while Janet Agura and Patrober Kembal received P50,000 and P35,000 for second and third, respectively.

“Namali ng enter,” rued Luiza. 

The Kenyans were a class of their own in the men’s side, setting a bristling pace and sweeping top podium honors in the race fired off at 3 a.m. to avoid the traffic snarl on Commonwealth avenue and the nearby roads.

Kib Talam, a skinny 29-year-old from Kabkombe town, some 300 kilometers away from Nairobi, outsprinted pal Geofrey Birgen at the finish for first place.

Birgen was still ahead heading to the final kilometer with a police marshal between him and the eventual winner. Talam poured everything in the final 500 meters, coming from behind to beat Birgen by four seconds. Coming in third was Philip Roroh at 2:38:42.

“It was a tough race. The route was hilly,” said Talam, not satisfied with his clocking of 2:31:00.

A late-bloomer who took the sport only four years ago, Talam had his training in Montalban, Rizal to thank for in his first-ever 42K triumph.

His next goal is to make good in a Cebu International run in January, then in similar events in Malaysia and Thailand.

Elmer Sabal ruled the 42K local event, following in the footsteps of older brother Cris (the 2009 winner) and younger brother Gerard (the 2011 victor).

“Tutok-tutok lang, kulang sa training (I just ran behind the Kenyans. I lacked training),” said the 30-year-old Army corporal from Sultan Kudarat, clocking 2:42:47 to Rene Desuyo’s 2:48:23 and Carlito Fantilaga’s 3:01:19.

Johndan Maru and Nhea An Barcena ruled the 21K international race, Alloy Quisay and Janette Lumidao topped the 21K local, Martin Balaybo and Wilma Santa Ana triumphed in the 10K and Rudifer Hernandez won the men’s 5K.

QC Mayor Herbert Bautista fired off the 21K, 10K and 5K runs in this event organized by Runnex and sponsored by SM Development Corp. (SMDC) in full cooperation with the city mayor and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte.

A huge field participated in the event held in  celebration of Quezon City’s 73rd founding anniversary.