Filipino runners to face acid test against Kenyans in today’s Aboitiz Run to Reduce
Filipino runners are expected to face a tough time when they compete against formidable Kenyan runners in today’s second installment of Aboitiz Equity Venture’s Run to Reduce 2011 starting at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).
Milo National Marathon Manila leg 21k champ James Tallam leads the pack of Kenyan runners as he will be joined by Abraham Missous, Willy Tanui, Susan Jemutai, Douglas Mbui, Josphat Keptanui, Satnley Tingcirwi and Peris Poywo.
The Kenyans are expected to give the Filipinos a tough time in the 42-kilometer and 21k categories of the race.
The Filipinos will be headed by Eduardo Buenavista, the current record-holder of the fastest time in the 42k in the country.
Joining him will be former RP team member Bernardo Desamito, Aileen Tolentino, Maricel Maquilan, Zamboanga’s Mary Grace Delos Santos, Cebu’s Mary Joy Tabal and her trainer John Philip Duenas and Ian Bernido.
Coast-to-coast 65k champ Ivan Villaleon will also compete in the 42k race along with Adonis Singson, Madelyn Carter and Merlita Arias-Dunkin.
Joel Delposo, Jorry Ycong, Aiza Suaybaguio and Joeyry Lee will be competing in short-distance categories today.
All runners will be going for the whopping top purse which awaits the winners.
The male and female winners in the 42k will get P70,000 while the second placers get P40,000. P20,000 will be given to the third placers. 21k top placers, on the other hand, will receive P20,000, second placers receive P10,000 while P5,000 goes to the third placers.
“Mao jud ni ang pinakadako nga running event sa Cebu karon,” said race director Raffy Uytiepo. “When it comes to prizes, mao ni pinakadako and we managed to attract all of the country’s best runners.” said in an interview with Cebu Daily News yesterday.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will award the winners after the race.
The 42-kilometer route will reach the northern town of Compostela.
Aside from the full marathon, other categories include 3k, 5k, 10k and 21k.
