Milo Marathon kicks off July 1; local division up

Local runners can look forward to more incentives after organizers of the Milo Marathon revised its rules for the 36th edition of the annual footrace which fires off on July 1 in Baguio City.

A new category has been added to the National Finals where only Filipinos are eligible to win. In case of a top-three finish in the Open division, the local runner forfeits his placing in the local category.

The Open category will dangle P300,000, P250,000 and P200,000 to the podium finishers while the top three placers in the local division will earn  P150,000, P100,000 and P75,000.

Foreigners may compete only in the 42K Manila elimination and must have a working visa in order to participate.

Runners who can present proof of finish in any race accredited by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races or International Association of Athletics Federations one year before the Milo race qualify to the finals.

“We are looking at a total of 200,000 runners this year,” said Milo Sports executive Andrew Neri, who was joined in yesterday’s media launch at the Bayview Hotel in Manila by fellow Milo Sports official Pat Goc-ong, coach and organizer Rio dela Cruz, and Philippine Sports Commisision chair Richie Garcia.

The other elimination legs: Dagupan, Tarlac, Angeles and Manila in the four Sundays of July; Naga on Aug. 19; San Pablo, Lipa, Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran in September; Cebu, Bacolod and Iloilo in October; and Gen. Santos City, Davao, Butuan and Cagayan de Oro in November.