Lupio tops Davao MILO^® Marathon elims; Sabal set to win fourth National crown

DAVAO City : As expected the top bets clutched slots to the National Finals as the 17 regional qualifying legs of the 35th National MILO^® Marathon came to a close Sunday here.

Brian Lupio came more prepared and went on to outrace three-time national champion Cresenciano Sabal to pocket the P10,000 top purse in the final 17th leg at the Jacinto Ave. Sisters Cynthia Jaro and Criselyn Jaro made a 1-2 finish with a clocking of 1:31:48 and 1:32:47 respectively to rule the women's category.

The 23-year-old Lupio of Baguio District, Davao City, fell behind speeding Anthony Nerza and engaged Sabal in a neck to neck enroute to the halfway mark. Lupio accelerated 7 kilometers into the race and finished alone to record a new personal best time of 1:13:33. Nerza settled for second in 1:14:30, while Sabal of the Philippine Army finished third in 1:17:26.

“Going into the race, I was wary of the competition because I heard that I will be running against Sabal and Nerza who are both strong runners so I really made an effort to prepare,” said Lupio, who won his second MILO^® regional title despite blistered feet and untied shoelaces.

Lupio was referring to 22-year-old Nerza of Kapatagan, Digos, Davao del Sur  who is 2010 National Finals 4th placer and 33-year-old Sabal, the national titlist in 2005, 2007 and 2009.

Sabal had his own predicament when he failed to finish the Gen. Santos City leg last week due to leg pains, but recovered on time to join the last elimination race just to fulfill his dream of a fourth national crown.

“I am happy that I still finished third despite my condition. I hope to get my fourth MILO^® Marathon King title, that’s why me and fellow Philippine Army runners are training hard and strategizing to make a competitive performance against Kenyan and Ethiopian runners,” said Sabal.

Completing the top 10 in the men's division were Ricky Grande (1:19:02),  John Lyd Pasaforte (1:20:41), Mario Ecalner (1:22:02), Robert Daang (1:23:55), Ronald Dagaang (1:23:57), Rodien Hormigas (1:24:01) and Benes Delgado (1:27:31).

On the distaff side, 20-year-old Cynthia Jaro of Turil, Davao City and her sister Criselyn made the age group qualifier cut-off with 21 others in both the men's and women's categories.

“My 21k last year was my first and I was not as prepared then as I am now. This year’s route was more challenging with 8 uphill and downhill parts that tested my endurance, but thankfully competition wasn’t that close and I finished ahead,” said Cynthia, last year’s National MILO Marathon 10th placer. Cynthia aims to make top 10 and improve her record of 3:23:00 to 3:10:00 this year.

The field of 12,053 runners contributed to the National MILO^® Marathon’s ‘Help Give Shoes’ advocacy to raise 500 pairs of shoes for students of Leon Garcia National High School, Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School, Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School, Davao City National High School and Magallanes Elementary School.

With the last elimination leg down, and more than 400 runners making the age group qualifying time, all of the country’s best runners will converge at the 42.195 K race at the National MILO^® Marathon Finals on December 11 at the SM Mall of Asia.

On the run-up to the Manila Finals, the National MILO^® Marathon also announces it is already open for registration for 3k, 5k, 10k and 21k race categories through Manila Race organizer RunRio. Interested participants can log on to www.MILO.com.ph for online registration or go to RUNNR Store Bonifacio High Street, Planet Sports Trinoma or Toby’s SM Mall of Aisa.