Gate crashers

The Kenyan runners dominated the marathon for a long time until  the Ethiopians come along, However the Ugandans served notice that they want to join the party and even crashed on several major running events.  Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda won the 2012 London Olympic Marathon and also the 2013 World Championship in Moscow.  To prove that they indeed (Ugandans) are ondeed a force to reckon with after Jacob Kiplimo broke the half-marathon world record in the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon.  Kiplimo, timed 57:31 to eclipse Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie’s  mark  by one second.  Kiplimo won the bronze medal in the 10,000 meters in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  His 15K split (40:27) is also the world’s fastest.  Ethiopia’s ESA Huseyidin Mohamed came in second in 59:39 while another Ethiopian, Gerba Beyata Dibaba, pocketed  third with the  same clocking as Gerba.  Hillary Kipkoech wound up fourth in 59:41 with Ibrahim Hassa Bouh, finishing fifth, in 59:43.  The Ethiopians continued to shame the  Kenyans when Tsehay Gemechu ruled the women’s side  in 1:06:06.  Kenyans Daisy Cherotich and  Joyce. Chepkemoi settled for second and third in1:06:15 and 1:06:19 respectively.

Cheryl Treworgy

Cheryl Treworgy is the first  woman to break 2:50 in  the marathon and she did it on her second try  on the distance.  Treworgy clocked 2:49:40 in the Western Hemisphere Marathon in Culver City (that’s where my sister Iris lives).  Treworgy  started running in 1964 with the boys track team since there was no girls team then.  She represented the US on five world  cross-country teams (1968,69,70 and 76), finshing fourth  in the 1969 International  Cross Country Championship.  She clocked 3:15

In her first marathon, then in 1971 finally broke the 3-hour barrier  when she clocked 2:49:40.  She has two daughters, Maggie and Shalane.  Fifty years later it was Shalane’s turn to shine.  Shalane was the frst American in 40 years to win the New York City Marathon and recently completed six marathons in six weeks.  (Abbott World Marathon Majors).

PCAP champions

Got a late call from NM Nelson Mariano who informed me of a sad news.  The defending champions Iloilo Kisela Knights lost to the  San Juan Predators in the 3rd Conference of the Online Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Chess Tournament.  The Iloilo Kisela Knights were clearly the underdog after the Predators beefed its line up with Olympian Rolando Nolte. The Predators boasts of GM  Oliver Barbosa, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, IM  Ricky de Guzman, Fide Master, Narquingdel Reyes and Narcisco Gumila. On the other hand, the Ilonggos have only GM Joey Antonio and Mariano who was Finals MVP in the Second Conference. Also providing support are NM Karl Ochoa, NM John Silvederio, Fritz Pornas and Fide Master Cherry Ann Mejia.  Mariano said thy ran out of time in the second set.  With added firepower in Nolte, the Predators swept the Knights, 19-2,11.5-9.6 in two legs.  San Juan started like a house on fire as it mangled Iloilo 7-0 in blitz contest and trashed the Knights 12-2 in the first set.  Iloilo never recovered.  Antonio prevented a shut out by winning over Nolte.  The Predators’ output of 11.5 points to lloilo’s 9.5, preveted a possible Armageddon play-off to end the knights’ quest for back-to-back titles.  Antonio Nolte and De Guzman were with the 1992 National Chess Team that trained in Baguio City.  GM Eugene Torre was camp director while I was physical conditioning coach.  Cge lang mga paisano, next year naman!

NOTES:  Congratulations to Twinkle Ignacio who finished fourth in the Cebu Pink 100k Virtual Ultramarathon, held recently.  Ignacio 56, is also a paddler of the Sugbo Mighty Dragon Boat Team (Masters category ).  She is well known for wearing different costumes during her runs, including ultramarathons.