Bolivar, Fetalvero lead 39 San Pablo qualifiers in the 35th National Milo Marathon

Veteran Alquin Bolivar and former Milo Marathon Queen Mercedita Manipol-Fetalvero earned finals spots after topping the men and women categories of the Laguna Qualifying Leg of the 35th National Milo Marathon in San Pablo City in the province of Laguna, according to organizers on Sunday.


Despite the lack of better challengers, the 25-year-old Bolivar worked on a personal test to finish some six minutes ahead over second placer Modesto Manalang Jr. with a time of 1:14:42 to lead 37  other age group qualifiers into the National Finals at the SM Mall of Asia on December 11.

“I am happy that I won but I am disappointed that I didn’t reach my personal best of 1:08:00. I am still feeling the brunt of exhaustion after my bronze medal finish in the Asian Army Half-Marathon in Singapore last Sept. 6,” said Bolivar, the Army Duty Sergeant who placed sixth in the  National Milo Marathon finals in 2009.

Bolivar

Finishing third was Jucell Laya (1:22:29) while Ronald Salgado (1:25:50) settled for fourth and Robert Fettar at the fifth spot (1:26:13).

Completing the top 10 cast in the 21-k category were Diosdado Ramirez (1:28:51), John Ernie Fernandez (1:28:55), Rudy Tikiko (1:28:57), Sonny Ducay (1:29:18) and Bernardo Baldovino (1:31:14).

Manipol-Fetalvero, the 2008 National Milo Marathon titlist, served notice of her title bid by ruling the mostly flat and paved 21-km route with a clocking of 1:30:32 to earn another trip into the finals.

The return of the 31 year-old Manipol-Fetalvero will renew her rivalry against aggressive female runners like RP national  team mainstay Jhoan Banayag, Luisa Raterta and reigning women’s titlist Flordeliza Donos.

“It was hard to beat my personal best with no worthy contender to provide a challenge and push me,” stressed Fetalvero, also a gold medalist in the 2005 Sea Games and currently serving assistant coach at the University of the East track and field team under Elma Muros.

Manipol-Fetalvero

Settling for a runner-up position was Melanie Malihan (1:43:18) of Macrunners Sports while Perlita Ruben (1:43:58) placed third and Janice Tawagin (1:45:00) fourth. Genevieve de la Pena (1:51:47) of Taguig  Team salvaged a fifth place finish.

Also booking Finals appearances in different race categories were Cipriano Laylo (1:36:14), Edizon Ticzon (1:37:55), Ronnie Pilarca (1:36:47), Magtanggol Tambao (1:36:49), Philip Enriquez (1:37:50), Miguelito Pernalino (1:37:56) and Reynaldo Salviejo (1:38:00). Perlita Ruben (1:45:51), Joshua Guinyang (1:42:20) and Leotilde Labrador (1:57:20)

A total number of 6,543 runners answered the starting gun in the different race categories and helped donated 500 pairs of shoes to public school children in Elementary Schools, Bagong Bayan, San Vicente, Ambray, San Pablo City National High School and San Pablo Central School as part of the National Milo Marathon “Help Give Shoes” advocacy.

From San Pablo City, the 17-leg eliminations will visit the Visayas starting at Ilo-Ilo City on Sept. 18, Bacolod (Sept. 25), Cebu City (Oct 2), Tagbilaran (Oct 9), Cagayan De Oro (Oct 16), Butuan (Oct 23), General Santos (Oct 30) and the Davao City leg on Nov. 6 with the Manila Finals slated on December 11.