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Eric
Panique of Himamaylan City and Meriam Miranda of
Victorias City won virtually unchallenged the 21-km
elimination race of the 32nd National Milo Marathon in
Bacolod City Sunday morning.
The
two runners from Negros Occidental traveled to Iloilo
City last year to join, and eventually rule, the
qualifying race of the national foot race because nearby
Bacolod City was not included on the 2007 marathon
calendar.
When
the race returned to the home of the world-famous
MassKara
Festival, Panique and Miranda enlisted for the marathon
and the result was no different.
Panique and Miranda received the day’s biggest trophies
and pocketed P10,000 each for their victories. They also
towed the rest of the top three 21K finishers to the 42K
national finals slated on November 30 in Metro Manila,
where a P75,000 prize money awaits the would-be king and
queen.
Panique, 25, clocked one hour, 13 minutes and five
seconds in claiming his third-leg championship.
Miranda, 19, set an impressive time of 1:33:34 to win
her second-straight leg crown. She was more than three
minutes ahead of second-placer Allyn Grace Salas
(1:36:40) and nearly 13 minutes faster than third-placer
Camille Kay Poral (1:46:10).
“Paghahandaan ko na ngayon ang finals sa Maynila,” said
the 25-year-old Panique, who placed fourth overall in
last year’s grand finale.
Rowell
Hulleza (1:14:29) and Reynaldo Jolito Jr. (1:17:32),
placed second and third, respectively, in the men’s
race.
The
top three finishers in the 5K fun run were Matthew
Tyrrell (17:53), Tiron Enlangan (18:12) and Jezrael
Bayotas (18:16) in the men’s side; and Mary Joy Caporas
(21:08), Melanie Poticar (22:13) and Melany Clamor
(22:57) in the women’s contest.
The
winners in the 3K run for kids were Ricardo Genon Jr.
and Melody Poticar in the six-to-nine age group, and
Erose Miranda and Estela Alvares in the 10-to-12
category.
University of St. La Salle, meanwhile, topped the
Interschool Team Running Competition.
Roxas
City will host the next qualifying leg on July 6. |
