Yakult race: Raterta averts all-Kenya show

PREVENTING a looming foreign sweep, Luisa Raterta surged in the final stretch to capture the women’s division crown of the 27th Yakult 10 Miler race that fired off and ended yesterday in front of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Raterta topped the 16K run in one hour, seven minutes and 25 seconds after getting past early leader Judith Kepchirchir of Kenya in the last nine kilometers.

“I noticed [Kepchirchir] was slowing down and she kept looking behind,” Raterta, a former duathlete, said in Filipino. “I took advantage in the last nine kilometers and I ran fast heading into the finish line.”

The 35-year-old Raterta ruled the event won last year by Cinderella Lorenzo, who opted to compete in the 5K run where she finished first with a 20:52 clocking.

Kenya’s Eric Chepsiror emerged men’s division champion, where all podium finishers conquered the race in less than an hour.

Chepsiror submitted a time of 51:25, while compatriots Jackson Chirchir (54:08) and Ellud Kering (54:37) checked in as runners-up.

Another Kenyan, Joackim Kemboi, copped the 5K crown in 15:49 to narrowly edge local bet Reynold Villafranca (15:53).

In the 3K age-group contest, Francis Morales finished in 13:38 and Rayya Abellar in 12:56 (10-13 boys/girls), Marionne de Vera in 14:38 and Shaira Fantillaga in 17:55 (6-9 boys/girls). Jasmine W. Payo