INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?Vincent Chepsiror captured a second straight Philippine marathon crown as powerhouse Kenya dominated local long-distance aces anew, sweeping the men?s division of the Run for Pasig River which started and finished at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila Sunday.

Chepsiror crossed the payoff line in two hours, 25 minutes and 43 seconds, two minutes and 11 seconds faster than his winning time in the second Subic International Marathon only last Oct. 24.

Johnson Tarus placed second in 2:27:05 while Kiberess Kember was third in 2:27:17. Three other Kenyans occupied fourth to sixth spots?Hillary Lagat (2:28:21), Willy Kipkemoi (2:28:18) and Hillary Kimutai (2:29:24).

?I am very happy to win again and I want to come back here next year,? said the 29-year-old Chepsiror, who broke away from the lead pack in the final four kilometers, near the intersection of Sen. Gil. Puyat and Taft avenues in Pasay City.

Filipinos Eric Panique clocked 2:30:13 and Crescenciano Sabal 2:33:33 to place seventh and eighth, respectively.

Cebuana Miscelle Gilbuena (3:18:08) prevailed in the Kenyan-less distaff side. Monaliza Ambasa placed second (3:18:36) and Geraldine Sealza was third (3:20:57).

The full marathon winners took home P30,000 in cash and P70,000 worth of products while the 5K and 10K topnotchers bagged P5,000.

The inaugural Quezon City International Marathon on Oct. 18 also saw the Kenyans sweep the men?s and women?s full and half marathon events.

The race, also known as the Philippine International Marathon, drew about 22,000 participants, more than 3,000 of them in the premier 42.195-kilometer event.

The full marathon runners negotiated nine of the 13 bridges of the Pasig River. A 42K relay event composed of 20 people exchanging turns in 21 points was held alongside the regular race.

Gina Lopez, managing director of ABS-CBN Foundation Inc., which is one of the lead partners of the Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig campaign, said the marathon raised about P5 million.

?Sometimes, it?s not all about the money,? said Lopez, who finished her 5K race in 40 minutes.

?Events like this raise the people?s awareness about the importance of the Pasig River and at the same time, promote running which is good for our health.?