Sonny Wagdos and Judelyn Miranda claimed top honors yesterday in the 21-kilometer qualifier of the 38th National Milo Marathon in Davao.
Wagdos prevailed in one hour, 13 minutes and 59 seconds to beat Michael Jan Echalico (1:15:03) and Gilbert Maluyo (01:18:13) in the men’s division of the annual race’s last elimination leg.
Miranda clocked 1:33:45 in the distaff side, leaving behind runners-up Madelyn Carter (1:49:43) and Daisy Joy Dayondon (1:58:09).
Both Wagdos, who ran his first half marathon event, and Miranda pocketed P10,000 and will join the 40 other Davao qualifiers in the Dec. 7 finals at Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay.
A total of 1,125 finalists from 17 qualifying legs will compete in the 42K race which will award P300,000 to the Open category winner and P150,000 to the Local division champion.
The Milo Marathon King and Queen, or the fastest Filipino runners, will also get all-expense paid trips to the 2015 Tokyo Marathon.
“There were many runners ahead of me but I was able to grab the lead at the halfway mark,” said the 20-year-old Wagdos of University of Mindanao. Romina S. Austria