INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?Familiar names from Kenya dominated two separate races Sunday while local female runners took the spotlight in the absence of foreign competition.

Kember Kimberess topped the centerpiece 21K event while Willy Tanui barely escaped with the 15K plum in the Globe Run for Home which covered the Makati Business District and Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.

Over at the Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City, David Kipsang bagged his second Philippine win in The Green Miles run sponsored by the University of Santo Tomas High School Batch 1988.

Local runners ruled all female races.

The 23-year-old Kimberess clocked one hour and 12 minutes to beat Elmer Sabal (1:17:30) and Regie Lumaug (1:30:00) and take home P15,000. The runners-up bagged P10,000 and P7,000, respectively.

?It was a nice run,? said Kimberess, who trains at the Quirino Grandstand grounds when in Manila. ?I got away from my competitors in the second kilometer only.?

The female winners were Belle Grandinetti (1:47:14), Mitch Mendoza (1:53:47) and Perla Benavidez (1:54:51).

Tanui crossed the 15K finish line in 51 minutes, just three seconds ahead of Alquin Bolivar. Frank Indapan (53:49) placed third.

It was Tanui?s eighth win on Philippine soil, including the 21K race of last year?s Subic International Marathon.

Female 15K top finishers were Luisa Raterta (1:07:29), Michelle (no last name given; 1:08:29) and Genevieve dela Peña (1:19:05).

Tanui (1:13:50) led the Kenyans? 21K sweep at MOA, with Willy Rotich second (1:13:55) and Jonathan Cheboi third (1:16:02).

Nhea Ann Barcena (1:29:16), Mischelle Gilbuena (1:31:58) and Joan Pallones (1:45:49) dominated the female division.

The Run for Home, a project of Globe and Ayala Land, drew over 8,000 runners.

The other Globe Run for Home winners: 3K Female?Liza Diaz (10:44), Ajenirose delos Santos (10:45), Cris Perez (13:00); 3K Male?Patrick Gongob (8:40), Jethro Latre (8:47), Wilfred Sambrona (9:41); 5K Female?Mary Claire Bongabong (24:00), Jamilia Fernando (25:16), Rowena Pico (26:00); 5K Male?Rudy Terigo (18:00), Brendo Pabayo (19:13), Anbert Española (21:00); 10K Female?Mia Anne Barcena (41:53), Monica Torres (42:03), Rachel Zamora (48:22), 3rd place; 10K Male?Michael Dangca (42:02), Mark de Mesa (42:57), Jason Diona (43:55).