Maluyo, Jaro gain national finals spots

Criselyn Jaro (middle) raises her trophy during the
awarding ceremonies.

General Santos City (Nov. 4, 2012) - Gilbert Maluyo and Criselyn Jaro topped the 21k MILO Marathon Regional qualifying race here on Sunday to earn a spot in the upcoming national finals this December.

Maluyo, currently studying at Holy Trinity College, booked a time of 1 hour, 14 minutes and 12 seconds to win the men's category while Jaro checked in at the 1:31:23 mark to gain the women's category title in the 36th staging of the annual footrace.

Jaro, whose other four sisters will try to qualify for the national finals during next week's Davao qualifying race, is looking forward to running with her siblings in the national finals set on December  9 at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.


“Last year, my sister Cynthia and I made a 1-2 finish in the 21-k Davao race. I look forward to running alongside my sisters at the finale, but this will not stop me from pursuing the top spot,” said Jaro.


"All four of my sisters have participated in MILO races in the past, and are set to compete in the Davao eliminations leg next week. I admire their passion and exceptional skills in athletics. They motivate me to become a faster and stronger runner,” Jaro, a student at Brokenshire College, added.


Finishing behind Jaro were second placer Monalisa Ambasa (1:31:38) and third place finisher April Rose Diaz  (1:32:25).

Maluyo came from behind to win the Gen. Santos City
qualifying race.

Maluyo, meantime, have to comeback from behind to take the top spot and post his best ever showing in this annual and biggest footrace in the Philippines.

"Elmer (Bartolo) led by a good forty meters during the first few minutes of the race, but after the 8 kilometer mark, I was able to match his speed,” said the 31-year old Kidapawan native referring to eventual second placer who posted a time of (1:15:24).

“It took me a while to set a distance and lead the race, but my will to win held me through and pushed me towards the finish line. I have been running the local MILO races for four years, but I believe this is my best performance yet," Maluyo added.

 From the swarming scene of 7,790 runners in the fourteenth regional leg of the 36th National MILO
Marathon, Gilbert Maluyo and veteran Criselyn Jaro highlighted an exhilarating Sunday morning in General Santos City. Maluyo of Holy Trinity College finished the fair-weathered track at 1:14:12 and bested rival Elmer Bartolo for a back-to-back 21-k MILO Marathon regional championship.

"Elmer led by a good forty meters during the first few minutes of the race, but after the 8 kilometer mark, I was able to match his speed,” said the 31-year old Kidapawan native. “It took me a while to set a distance and lead the race, but my will to win held me through and pushed me towards the finish line. I have been running the local MILO races for four years, but I believe this is my best performance yet."

Arnie Macañeras completed the top -three spots with a time of 1:18:42.

Some of the youngsters who received shoes from MILO's
Help give Shoes advocacy program.

With 7,790 runners participating in the Gen. Santos race, MILO, through its "Help Give Shoes" advocacy were able to provide running shoes for student of Buayan National High School, Bula Central Elementary School, Ligaya National High School, Mindanao State U. High School and Lagao National High School, are among the campaign’s beneficiaries.

In the special awards category, General Santos City National High School brought home double wins in the ‘Biggest Delegation’ and ‘Fastest Delegation’ divisions with a total of 1,070 finishers and an aggregate time of 23:25.58.

According to MILO Sports Executive Robbie de Vera, local government units, the Department of Education, Red Cross and the Philippine National Police contributed greatly to this event’s success.

More than 7,000 runners participated in the Gen. Santos
City leg of the tournament

"We are privileged to have the support and participation of the local government and organizations, all of whom helped extend our effort to expand sports development in regional and provincial areas. We expected an astounding turnout here today and the runners of General Santos City did not disappoint. The number of runners has almost doubled from last year’s head count. This is an excellent display of the region’s competence in sports,” said Robbie de Vera, MILO Sports Executive.

“We believe that the champions who graced today’s tracks have set the standard for qualifiers from the other regions. The National Finals is sure to see action and an interesting race in December."

After the General Santos leg, the qualifying race will shift to Davao City on November 11, Butuan City on November 18 and Cagayan de Oro City on November 25.