INQUIRER Sports

IF LAST YEAR?S RESULTS WERE TO BE THE gauge, this year?s batch of runners in the Iloilo and Legazpi legs of the 33rd National Milo Marathon eliminations will have a lot of catching up to do to qualify for the national finals.

The Iloilo men?s division winner last year, Anthony Babiera, won in 1:17:00, two minutes behind the finals? qualifying time of 1:15.

On the other hand, women?s topnotcher Junalyn Plaza clocked 1:45:48, almost 10 minutes slower than the 1:35 cutoff time.

Legazpi winners last year were Romeo Marquez (1:15:39) and Enate Sayrol (1:43:37).

The qualifying time was introduced this year to improve the level of competition and make the races more challenging, according to Nestle AVP Pat Goc-ong.

About 7,000 runners are expected in both Iloilo and Legazpi races. Bacolod and Naga (Aug. 30) and Dumaguete and San Pablo (Sept. 6) will host the last 21K events before the Oct. 11 finals, a full marathon which will start and end at Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

Firing the starting gun in Iloilo is Councilor Joe Espinosa III, chair of the Iloilo City Sports Council In Legazpi, Gov. Joey Salceda, Vice Gov. Brando Sael and Mayor Noel E. Rosal will be at the start line.