Norlan Warizal repeated as Puerto Princesa champion as the 37th Milo Marathon kicked off its 17-leg qualifying races in Palawan over the weekend.
The 28-year-old Warizal finished the men’s 21K event in one hour, 17 minutes and 59 seconds to tow runners-up Orly Maestro (1:21:58) and Mark Julius Mendoza (1:22:04) and 12 others to the National Finals in December.
Bernardita Mag-Aso, 26, ruled the distaff side, winning in 1:33:30, 20 minutes ahead of second-placer Rowena Quipquip (1:53:35). Joanna Flores was third in 2:00:43.
Maestro and Quipquip both placed third in last year’s Puerto Princesa leg.
Warizal and Mag-Aso pocketed P10,000 each and trophies. The top-placed Filipino runners in the National Finals—even if they don’t win—will represent the country in the 2014 Paris Marathon.
A total of 6,846 runners joined the event.
Ruling the 10K men’s race were Joe Marie Jovelo (35:57), Sherwin Leonidas (37:26) and Edjay Jamandre (37:45) while the women’s topnotchers were Marichel Maestro (49:00), last year’s Puerto Princesa 21K runner-up, Jenieber Mag-Aso (50:13) and Kristina Racuya (1:03:16). Romina S. Austria