Pascua gains another Milo run finals slot

Veteran Reynaldo Pascua will get another shot at a national crown while Mercy Taypoc emerged as the lone female qualifier at the start of the 35th National Milo Marathon in Laoag yesterday.

The 42-year-old Pascua of Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, ruled the male 21K elimination in one hour, 16 minutes and 22 seconds.

Baguio native Taypoc, 18, topped the distaff side with a time of 1:36.24.  She was also the Baguio leg winner last year.

Both winners pocketed P10,000 each while leading 22 other qualifiers to the Manila finals on Dec. 11.

Pascua’s running buddy, Jay Viloria, faded in the last seven kilometers, settling for runner-up honors and P6,000 with a time of 1:16.33.  Third placer Edison Melchor (1:20:54) took home P4,000.

Sandi Menchi Abahan (1:47:05) and Anna Liza Maraan (1:55:39) placed second and third, respectively, but failed to meet the 1:40 qualifying time for the women’s division.

Pascua, who has participated in 12 Milo Marathon seasons, won the Northern Luzon legs in 2004 to 2007 and 2009.  He placed fifth during the 1996 National Finals won by six-time champion Roy Vence.

“I was familiar with the route so it was quite easy for me,” Pascua said in Filipino.