AFTER BEING banned from other races to give chance to local runners, the Kenyans were finally allowed to compete and they made their return with a bang as they dominated the 16-kilometer race of the 3rd Saint Ignatius Run yesterday in MandaueCity.
Josphat Kiptanui topped the men’s 16k side as he crossed the finish line at the Insular Square in 53 minutes and 56 seconds.
Kenyans Douglas Mbui and Francis Kakui claimed second and third places, respectively, clocking 54:56 and 57:28.
Capping off the Kenyans’ domination was Abraham Missous, who won the 6k men’s crown with a time of 19 minutes and 17 seconds.
Meanwhile, Mary Joy Tabal went head-to-head against rival Mary Grace delos Santos and emerged victorious in the 16k women’s category.
Tabal finished the race in one hour, four minutes and two seconds while Delos Santos finished second with a time of one hour, seven minutes and 33 seconds. Christy Tutor rounded off the top three, clocking one hour, nine minutes and 17 seconds.
Lovely Andrin bagged the women’s 6k crown with a time of 23 minutes and 55 seconds. Jose Maria Navarro (12:36) and Celina Mae Revalde (16:42) were the winners in the 3k category.
The race was organized by the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Alumni Association (SHSAAA) and the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Athletic and Basketball Alumni Association (SHSAABAA) in celebration of the feast day of Jesuits founder Saint Ignatius de Loyola./CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL