Milo Marathon stakes berths to ’14 Paris run

MANILA, Philippines - There’s more than just fame and fortune that await the top Filipino finishers in this year’s National Milo Marathon.

The men behind the country’s longest-running footrace yesterday announced that the top Filipino runners in the men’s and women’s divisions will earn slots to the 2014 Paris Marathon.

The 2013 Milo Marathon will feature 17 qualifying legs around the country. It begins in Puerto Princesa on June 30 leading up to the 42k National Finals on Dec. 8 at the Mall of Asia grounds.

In the finals, foreign runners from Kenya and Ethiopia are expected to dominate the Open class which offers P300,000, P250,000 and P200,000 to the top three placers.

In the local division, the champion gets P150,000, second P100,000 and third P75,000. Cash prizes are up for grabs for the top 10 slots among local runners.

But Andrew Neri, Milo sports executive, said the top Pinoy runners will also have the rare chance to compete in the Paris Marathon set in April next year.

“We also looked at the Boston Marathon, the London Marathon and the New York Marathon but the Paris Marathon offered the best timing,” said Neri.

“We all know what happened in the last Boston Marathon which we still consider as our dream marathon. We just don’t want to be in it right now,” he added.

Robbie de Vera, also a Milo sports executive, said they will consider sending Filipino runners to the Boston Marathon in the future.

The Paris Marathon being held in April will give the Milo Marathon champions enough time to rest and prepare for what could be the biggest marathons of their lives.

Rio dela Cruz, the head race organizer, said they’ve already been informed of reservations for the two slots for next year’s Paris Marathon.

“We will shoulder their air fare and hotel accommodations in Paris,” said the celebrity race organizer.

Also present during yesterday’s highly attended press conference at Bayview Hotel were Tonisito Umali, assistant secretary of the Department of Education, and Atty. Eugene Yap, Bayview Hotel manager.

More than the footrace, this year’s Milo Marathon will continue to provide running shoes for the less-privileged school children around the country.

Since 2010, Milo of Nestle Philippines, Inc. has given away 24,200 pairs of shoes. This year they expect to give away a total of 10,000 pairs.

Aside from the 42k finals, there will be side events in the 21k, 10k, 5k and 3k fun runs.

After the Puerto Princesa leg on June 30, up next are Lipa on July 7, Naga July 14, San Pablo July 21, Manila July 28, Iloilo Aug. 4, Dumaguete Aug. 11, Tagbilaran Sept. 15, Cebu Sept. 22, Cagayan de Oro Sept. 29, Butuan Oct. 6, Davao Oct. 13, General Santos City Oct. 20, Baguio Nov. 3, Dagupan Nov. 10, Tarlac Nov. 17 and Angeles City Nov. 24.