Milo Marathon winners get shot at SEA Games national team

Patafa Chairman Popoy Juico said the winner of the Milo Marathon will represent the Philippines in the SEA Games. Photo by Bong Lozada

The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa), Inc. took a different approach in choosing the next Filipinos who will represent the country in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Patafa formed a partnership with Milo in choosing additional members of the Philippine track and field team which will compete in the 2019 Games.

The winners of the 2018 National Milo Marathon will join the likes of Mary Joy Tabal and Eric Cray in donning the country’s colors in the next Southeast Asian Games.

“That is the commitment, we’re after the winners on both categories [men’s and women’s] regardless of the time,” said Patafa chairman Popoy Juico Thursday at Conrad Hotel.

“Whoever wins in the full marathon will be chosen for the Southeast Asian Games,” added Juico in Filipino.

The 2018 National Milo Marathon will have 11 legs, with the first set on July 15 in Urdaneta.

Metro Manila will host the second leg on July 29 before the tournament makes stop at Tarlac, Batangas City, Lucena, Iloilo, Cebu, General Santos, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro and Laoag, the last destination, on Dec. 9.

“We are committed to delivering an inspiring season as we highlight the values of discipline, resilience, and determination to help our runners be molded into true champions,” said Milo Philippines Sports Executive Lester Castillo.