INQUIRER Sports

NATIONAL TEAM MEMBERS RENE Herrera and Christabel Martes prevailed over fellow veteran campaigners in the rain-soaked Crocs Prepair To Run at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City yesterday.

Herrera clocked 29:32, winning by nine seconds over Cresenciano Sabal in the main 10K race. Darwin Lim claimed third place, six seconds behind Sabal.

Martes topped the ladies race in 34:12. Ailene Tolentino and Marecil Maquilan both finished in 36:07 but the former was awarded second place.

The 30-year-old Herrera, the 3,000-meter steeplechase winner in the 2005 and 2007 Southeast Asian Games, and Martes picked up P5,000 each.

In the 5K event, Nelbert Ducusin, another RP team mainstay, timed 16:26 to capture the men?s crown.

Reigning Milo Marathon champion and SEA Games veteran Mercedita Manipol-Fetalvero topped the ladies side in 18:22 and won P4,000 like Ducusin.

Placing second and third, respectively, in the 5K race were Mervin Guark (16:27) and Art Thomas Fronda (17:26) in the men?s side and Nhea Ann Barcena (20:51) and Angelica Gajulen (31:04) in the distaff division.

More than 1,000 runners showed up despite the steady downpour.

Franco Limjuco, president of All Condition Gear Philippines Inc. (ACGPI), exclusive distributor of Crocs in the country, handed out the prizes.

The Crocs races raised funds for WE International Philippines, a nongovernmental organization that helps the children of Smokey Mountain.

Other winners were Patrick Gongob (men?s 3K, 8:41) and Mary Ann dela Cruz (ladies, 8:43).