Panique, Delos Santos top Del Run in Marikina

MANILA, Philippines - Eric Panique outsprinted Ireneo Raquin while Mary Grace Delos Santos dominated the ladies’ side as they ruled the 21K cateogry in the second Del Run (Save the Marikina Watershed) at the Marikina Sports Park Sunday.

Panique clocked 1:13:01 to nip Ireneo Raquin (1:13:06) for the top P10,000 purse with Rene Desuyo finishing a distant third in 1:21:33.

Delos Santos, meanwhile, stamped her class in the distaff side, turning in a 1:29:34 clocking to beat Janice Tawagen (1:35:27) and Cinderella Lorenzo (1:42:00). Delos Santos also took home P10,000.

Richard Salano timed 33:17 to humble veteran Elmer Sabal (33:58) and Jujet de Asis (34:19) and top the 10K division while Ferdinand Corpuz won the 5K event in 13:21, beating Roldan Verano (13:48) and Rudy Hernandez (14:53).

Janette Agura turned in a 42:26 clocking to outclass Corazon Salcedo (45:09) and Olivia Cortez (49:08) in the 10K female category while Mae Ann Gongob timed 18:20 to beat Jomarie Alison (20:44) and Marie Monica Silona (26:03) for  the 5K female title.

The top 10K finishers took P7,000, P5,000 and P3,000 plus medals, respectively.

 while winners in the 5K run received P3,000, P2,000 and P1,000, respectively.

Other awardees were 10-year-old Ralph Roxas (youngest runner – 21:44) and eight-year old Izza Aga (44:11), and 71-year-old Renato Garcia (oldest runner), who all competed in the 5K category. Each received medals and P1,000.

The event, held in honor of Marikina Mayor Del De Guzman, aimed to generate funds which the city government will utilize to plant trees and restore the 27,000-hectare Marikina Watershed. At its current state, there are not enough trees to prevent soil erosion which caused the Marikina River to become shallow and cause flooding in the city and its neighboring cities and municipalities. 

Other backers of the Del Run were Department of Environment and Natural Resources,Philippine National Police, Metropolitan Development Authority, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Education-Marikina, Pag-IBIG Fund, Social Security System, Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, ABS-CBN Foundation, Laguna Lake Development Authority-Quezon City, Philippine Veterans Bank, Millex Construction, Mines Geosciences Bureau, and many other companies and organizations.