THE KENYANS once again flaunted their supremacy on the road as they bagged titles in the Vaseline Men X-Terra Trail Run yesterday in Liloan town, northern Cebu.
Abraham Missous and Douglas Mbui finished one and two, respectively, in the men’s 21-kilometer run while Josphat Kiptanui bagged the 10k men’s crown.
Missous dominated the men’s side with a time of one hour, 14 minutes and 49 seconds but said the win didn’t come as easy as his stints in regular road races.
“Now I know that trail running is more difficult than road run,” said Missous, who has won several road races here in Cebu.
“The path is usually very narrow. There are plenty of stones along the path so you have to be very careful when competing in trail runs.”
Meanwhile, Brazilian Andrea Bess topped the distaff side of the 21k race. She clocked one hour, 52 minutes and 24 seconds.
“This is my first time joining this kind of race and it was perfect,” said Bess, who qualified for the World Championships to be held in Ouaho, Hawaii this December. “The race was well organized. I am looking forward to join more of this.”
Despite an injured right arm, Aileen Breen of Ireland managed to place second with a time of one hour, 52 minutes and 55 seconds. Merlita Arias-Dunkin rounded off the top three women runners with a time of one hour, 57 minutes and 35 seconds.
Mbui finished second in the men’s side, clocking one hour, 15 minutes and 50 seconds while Cebuano Bonifacio Monjas rounded off the top three with a time of one hour, 16 minutes and 37 seconds.
Kiptanui topped the 10-kilometer run for men while Cebuana Madelyn Carter lorded the distaff side. Rochelle Tan (women) and John Cliff Debulosan (men) ruled the 5k division. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL