Cebuanos seek to conquer Mt. Kinabalu

Two Cebuanas and one Davao bet will bid to be the first Filipina to win the well-known Mt. Kinabalu International Climbathon on September 30.

The two Cebuanas are Merlita Arias and Leiszl Lumindas-Getaruelas and Davao's Judelyn Miranda.

The three Pinays will compose the Philippine Sky Runners team and will be coached by a foreigner, Francis Cosgrave.

This will be the second time for Arias to join the event as she made it to the top 10 in her first attempt.

As part of their preparations to the tough challenge, the three are undergoing intensive training in the country's highest peak, Mt. Apo in Davao.

The three went to Mt. Apo last week and are expected to be back September in Cebu.

But their bid for top honors in the Mt. Kinabalu race is facing a major hitch as they as still looking for sponsors for their trip.

They are asking for support from the Cebu City Sports Commission, the San Miguel Corporation, PDLT and the Guardo Group of Companies, but got no reply yet.

Interested individuals and companies who want to sponsor the three Pinays can contact mobile phone numbers 0910-5282230 or 0919-6111225.

The three hopes to get financial support to be able to go ahead in Sabah, Malaysia and get acclimatized with the weather at Mt. Kinabalu, which is said to have an elevation of 13.432 feet above sea level.

According to their coach, Cosgrave, the three has a very realistic chance of taking the top honors in the event with Lumindas running a personal best time of 1 hour and 23.23 minutes during the Davao leg of the 2006 Milo Marathon and was trailed by Miranda in by a short gap.

Lumindas also reigned supreme in this year's Cebu Mountain Trail Run.

Arias, for her part, is back in her competitive form. Her familiarization with the place will also give her the edge over the other competitors.

The Mt. Kinabalu action will cover a total of 21 kilometers and it is said to be the toughest mountain race in the world.