Kenyans banner CamSur 42K tilt

PILI, Camarines Sur, Philippines—A total of 21 foreign runners, including 14 from Kenya and Ethiopia, will vie for the P300,000 grand prize in the inaugural CamSur International Marathon Sunday at the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC) here.   Henry Kipkosgei Cherono, who boasts a personal-best time of two hours, 10 minutes and 26 seconds, spearheads the 16-man Kenyan contingent. Vincent Kipchirchir Chepsiror, the 2009 Subic International Marathon winner, Kibress Kwemoi and Susan Jemutai Chepkwony, regulars in Philippines races, are also joining.   Ethiopia will field Tariku Aboste Bokan, Singapore will send two runners and Ukraine and Russia one each.   Out to foil the foreign invasion are Sabal brothers Crescenciano and Elmer, Alley Quisay, Crifrankreadel Indapan, Eric Panique, Irineo Raquin and Rafael Poliquit and female bets Mary Grace Delos Santos, Luisa Raterta, Miscelle Gilbuena, Belle Grandinetti and Ailene Tolentino, all perennial winners in the local running scene.   Sabal was a former national team member and the reigning Milo Marathon champion.
Triathlete Neil Catiil, Nhea-Ann Barcena and Marecil Maquilan are entered in the 21K category.   The top male and female 42K finishers will take home $7,000 (about P308,000), the second placers $4,000 (about P176,000) and  the third placers $2,500 (about P110,000). The best local performers will pocket P125,000. Overall winners in the half marathon category will bag P40,000 while P20,000 in cash awaits the best Filipino finishers.   African runners have been lording it over the marathon scene for several years now.   In the Boston Marathon, the oldest annual 42K race which started in 1897, Ethiopia and Kenya topped 21 of the last 23 editions. Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot of Kenya, this year’s men’s winner, clocked a course record 2:05:52    The 42K event fires off 4 a.m. at the Pili Convention Center, just outside CWC.   It will pass through the Pili Diversion road, which is the first turnaround point, and the towns of Tagbong, Malipao, Malitbog and  San Antonio.   Organizers of the first CamSur marathon, led by Gov. Lray Villafuerte, not only aim to promote CWC as a premiere sports and tourism destination.  They are also bidding for international accreditation for the event.   “Expect a world-class race because the route is accredited by the IAAF,” said Villafuerte. “International runners accepted our invitation so we want to give them the best.”   D-Tag, the electronic device being used in the NYC Marathon, will be used by runners.   “Participants can expect a fast and flat course, equally fast release of race results courtesy of Chronotrack Timing Systems,” said race director and running coach Rio Dela Cruz.