CEBU CITY—Two unheralded runners, one of them a first-time half marathon participant, stole the limelight in Sunday’s 34th Milo Marathon 21K Cebu elimination leg.
Adonis Singson took advantage of the absence of last year’s winner Mendel Lopez to rule the men’s race while Mary Joy Tabal stunned 2009 champion Madelyn Carter in the distaff side.
A total of 28 runners clinched National finals slot yesterday, bringing to 184 the number of finalists so far. The oldest Cebu qualifier was 70-year-old Anciano Abella who topped the 70-99 age group in 1:55:31.
The 27-year-old Singson clocked 1:15:15 to bag the P10,000 top prize. Runner-up Jobert Carolino was a close second in 1:15:39 and also earned an all-expense paid trip to the National Finals in Manila on Dec. 12 for beating the 1:15:00 standard male qualifying time.
“When I learned that Mendel will not run, I made it sure that I will win this time,” said Singson, a chicharon (pork crackling) vendor who finished third in 2006 and was runner-up in 2007.
Lopez is currently in Manila for a board examination, organizers said.
The 21-year-old Tabal prevailed in her first 21K event, outracing Carter in the final kilometer to finish in 1:28:44.
Carter, 30, settled for second in 1:31:30, also good enough for a free trip to Manila as the female standard time was 1:35:00.
“I’ve been joining several 10K races before and because this was my first 21K, I will prepare harder for the Manila finals,” said Tabal, who was also a 400-meter bronze medalist in the 2010 CHeD National Games in Manila.
Aside from luring 23,000 participants, the race also donated 400 pairs of running shoes to Tejeros Elementary School as part of its free shoes advocacy.
The regional elimination races will also go to Tagbilaran (Sept. 12), Dumaguete (Sept. 19), Iloilo (Sept. 26), Naga (Oct. 3), San Pablo City (Oct. 10), Batangas (Oct. 17), Puerto Princesa (Oct. 31), Tarlac (Nov. 7), Olongapo (Nov. 14), Butuan (Nov. 21) and Cagayan de Oro (Nov. 28).
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