DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Close to 14,000 runners will answer the starting gun today for the 21K elimination leg of the 36th National Milo Marathon here.
It will be the biggest footrace ever held in this city known for its fine beaches, mountain resorts and the exotic durian fruit.
Organizers expect a tight race.
Last year’s winner in the men’s division, Brian Lupio, will be around to defend the crown but admitted during Friday’s press conference it’s not going to be easy.
“I will just try my best,” said Lupio, still mourning the recent death of a family member. He said it kept him off the roads for a while and yet he hopes to be crowned champion once more.
Lupio ruled last year’s 21K race with a time of one hour, 13 minutes, 38 seconds, followed by Anthony Nerza (1:14.28) and three-time Milo National Finals winner Cresenciano Sabal (1:17.23).
In the women’s side, it could be another close family affair with Cynthia and Criselyn Jaro expected to duplicate their 1-2 finish last year with their winning times of 1:31.45 and 1:32.44.
Today’s top finishers will earn tickets to the 42K National Finals scheduled Dec. 9 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds. It will be the culmination of the 18-stop elimination legs around the country.
“There are new faces coming in and it makes it interesting,” said Milo sports consultant Pat Goc-Ong of the premier 21K race.
To ensure a smooth flow of the race and for the safety of the runners, the 500 runners in the 21K race will be flagged off first, and then those in the 10K, 5K and 3K side-events next.
Race organizer Kenneth Sai said 10,000 runners will compete in the 10K event, and since they will be wearing timing chips, they decided to flag them off in batches.
Milo sports executive Robbie De Vera said everybody’s looking forward to another successful staging of the race here in Davao City where the “no-smoking” rule is strictly in force.
“Each year it only gets bigger to the point that we had to limit the number of slots to the 5K and 3K races,” said De Vera, a former member of the Philippine men’s soccer team.
Previous races were held in Baguio, Dagupan, Tarlac, Angeles, Manila, Naga, San Pablo, Lipa, Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo and General Santos City. Up next are elimination races in Butuan on Nov. 18 and Cagayan de Oro on Nov. 25. Then it’s off to the National Finals offering P300,000 to the men’s and women’s champion.
It’s where all the marbles will be contested.