Bolivar, Fetalvero rule Laguna Milo Marathon

SAN PABLO CITY—Alquin Bolivar and Mercedita Manipol-Fetalvero frolicked in the wake of weak opposition and secured the men and women’s crown in the Laguna Qualifying Leg of the 35th National Milo Marathon recently.

The 25-year-old Bolivar clocked 1:14:42 for the 21-km route, six minutes ahead of second placer Modesto Manalang Jr., to lead 37 other qualifiers into the National Finals at the SM Mall of Asia on December 11.

“I am happy that I won but I am disappointed that I didn’t reach my personal best of 1:08:00,” said Bolivar, an Army Duty Sergeant who placed sixth in the 2009 National Milo Marathon finals. “I am still exhausted after my bronze medal finish in the Asian Army Half-Marathon in Singapore last September 6.”

At third place is Jucell Laya (1:22:29) while Ronald Salgado (1:25:50) settled for fourth and Robert Fettar fifth (1:26:13).

Completing the top 10 were Diosdado Ramirez (1:28:51), John Ernie Fernandez (1:28:55), Rudy Tikiko (1:28:57), Sonny Ducay (1:29:18) and Bernardo Baldovino (1:31:14).

The 31-year-old Manipol-Fetalvero negotiated the mostly flat and paved route in 1:30:32 to earn another trip into the national finals she topped in 2008.

“It was hard to beat my personal best with no worthy contender to provide a challenge and push me to go full force” said Fetalvero, the 2005 Sea Games gold medalist and current assistant coach of the University of the East track and field team.

Melanie Malihan of Macrunners Sports was a distant second with a time of 1:43:18.

Perlita Ruben placed third in 1:43:58, Janice Tawagin fourth (1:45:00) and Genevieve de la Pena of Taguig Team fifth (1:51:47).

Other National Finals qualifiers in different race categories include Cipriano Laylo (1:36:14), Edizon Ticzon (1:37:55) and Ronnie Pilarca (1:36:47).