INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - The country's winningest road racers set out as the prohibitive favorites in the first Microsoft IE8 Run firing off at 6 a.m. Sunday at the Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Eduardo Buenavista, fresh off his long-distance golden double in the National Open, and Christabel Martes head the roster of about 1,500 runners in the race that will be flagged off on 28th Street of the Fort.

Cash and other prizes are at stake in the 8 Miles (12.87 km), 4 Miles (6.44 km) and 2 Miles (3.22 km) races of the event that will usher in Microsoft’s new Internet Explorer 8.

The 2-miler will have a division for kids.

Race director Rudy Biscocho said runners should be at the assembly area on 28th Street not later than 5 a.m. for check in, briefing, and warmup exercises.

A total cash prize of P64,500 is up for grabs for the top finishers.

Expected to give Buenavista the stiffest challenge are Rene Hererra and Reynaldo de los Reyes.

The male and female winners of the 8-miler will receive P8,000 plus trophy, with the second placer and third placer getting P4,000 and P2,000, respectively, according to Chay Mondejar-Saputil, Microsoft Phils., Windows client product manager.