INQUIRER Sports

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga – Fifty year-old Ed Villanueva proved nothing beats experience after besting some 130 runners who braved the lahar-stricken terrain of Pampanga’s Sacobia River in the North Face 100-kilometer trail run.

Villanueva, a member of Team Baldrunner, was declared winner of the prestigious ultramarathon, which was suspended due to heavy rains Saturday afternoon.

The race, gathering some of the country’s best marathoners and a multitude of running enthusiasts, started 4a.m. Saturday. It was suspended at around 5p.m. due to heavy downpour prompting race organizers to halt the race out of concern for the runners’ safety.

The 100-kilometer trail run started at Expo Filipino here, traversing down Sacobia Bridge and passing through small barangays in the town of Bamban on the other side of the Sacobia River.

“The rain was so strong we had to hold the runners in the nearest marshal points along the trail for their own safety,” said race director Rio dela Cruz told INQUIRER.net after the race was concluded Sunday morning.

After a two and a half hour delay, race organizers decided to resume the race because the runners themselves wanted to finish the race, Dela Cruz said.

Villanueva crossed the finish line at around 10p.m. Saturday. As of this writing, race organizers are still tabulating the official race results.

“Matarik talaga ang daan pero nakatulong ‘yung four hours training ko, ‘yung pagtakbo sa UP campus (The trail was steep. Training for four hours everyday at UP Diliman helped),” said Villanueva in an interview after the awarding ceremonies.

Villanueva received a P20,000 cash prize and a trophy plus P10,000 worth of products. As the top finisher, he will get to represent the Philippines for the Guam Kokoroad Race this October, sponsored by the Guam Visitors’ Bureau.

Pepito Diapera, who won the inaugural TNF 100 last year held in Nasugbu, Batangas, placed second followed by one-armed runner and Philippine Skyrunning Association member Isidro Vildosola.

Olive Cortez, a member of Pinoy Ultrarunners, finished ahead of eleven female runners that joined the individual 100km race. Maria Stella Diaz, and Mila Paje finished second and third, respectively.

Willard de los Reyes and Potenciano Sabat of Team Baldrunner, meanwhile, arrived ahead in the 100km relay ahead of partners Paolo Joseph Soliven and Ramon Rodriguez, and the tandem of Marty de Castro and Ige Lopez.

Democrito Pingol won the 10km version held Sunday morning, finishing after 42 minutes and seven seconds ahead of Wilnar Iglesia and Ronald Marquez.

In the 20km category, Danny Bado finished after one hour and 32 minutes ahead of Allan Ballester and Jose Mari Javier.