Pinoy runner wins Guam race

Pepito Deapera finished first in the 2008 Guam Ko’ko’ Road Race with a winning time of 1:08:14. He outran Hyun Suk Lee and Sang Ki Kim, both from Korea, who came in second and third place respectively. The first local runner from Guam to place was Sung Ja Ahn, who was also the first female competitor to cross the finish line, coming in fifth overall, and Rodney Bordallo, who took seventh place overall.

The racecourse was lined with cheering crowds, many of them cultural performers from Guam to participate in the 21st Guam Micronesia Island Fair. The live entertainment that took place along the course has become a regular feature of the Guam Ko’ko’ Road Race and is greatly appreciated by the runners.

 The Guam Ko’ko’ Road Race had many more participants this year with an increase of over 200 percent in the number of participants from Japan, a clear indication that GVB’s marketing efforts in Japan to promote the event were well-received. Three celebrity runners from the Philippines, celebrities Drew Arellano, Priscilla Meirelles de Almeida and John Estrada also competed in the race.

The 2008 Guam Ko’ko’ Road Race was an enormous success, according to race organizers and the Guam Visitors Bureau. The total number of competitors was 702 runners.

The individual race in the Guam Ko’ko’ Road Race was increased to a half marathon length, which meant an additional 1.08 kilometers to the course. Another change over previous years was the Ekiden relay race that started at the same time as the individual race with runners making the turn around at the 20K point while individual competitors continued on to the half marathon turnaround at the War in the Pacific park in Asian village.

The overall winners of the Ekiden team competition was the US Navy Team with a time of 1:20:24. The US Air Force team came in a mere two seconds behind the Navy to take second place. The Muroto Super Express Military team from Japan, which has competed in the Guam Ko’ko’ Road Race’s Ekiden relay race every year since inception, took third place.

The 2009 Guam Ko’ko’ Road Race will be held on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009 and details will be uploaded to the GVB website very soon.

For more information you may reach Guam Visitors Bureau Philippine office at 2/F The Promenade Bldg., 198 Wilson St. Corner P.Guevarra, San Juan Metro Manila. Call 727-7755 / 726-4277, e-mail [email protected] or visit website www.visitguam.org.