Tough race expected during MILO's CdO elims

Unabia and Sotto

Expect another tough and sizzling race when Cagayan De Oro hosts the 14th 14th Qualifying Leg of the 35th Milo National Marathon at the Pelaez Sports Center, organizers said.

Intense competition will unfold in the City of Golden Friendship, with 4-time CDO National Milo Marathon elims champ Arnold Unabia and 26 year old Iligan-native Jeffrey Sotto vying for top spots in the premiere 21k elimination race.

Last year, Unabia edged Sotto by a mere 10 seconds and topped last year’s race with a 1:13:06 finish.

But the two tough runners must expect tough competitions from competitors coming fromn nearby provinces of Zamboanga, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon.

Local race organizers are targeting at least 12,000 runners to participate in the CDO race, which is the first of four elimination legs to be held in Mindanao. Registration for the half marathon and 10k race have doubled this year, an indication of the growing popularity of running in the region.

The Cagayan Leg age group qualifiers will join more than 300 runners who have already earned slots
to the National Finals from previous nationwide race legs and will vie for the P300,000 top prize in the
premier 42.195-km in the National Finals in Manila on Dec. 11.

After this Sunday’s race, the National Milo Marathon heads to Butuan City on Oct. 23, Gen. Santos City
on Oct. 30 and Davao City on Nov. 6.

As part of Milo’s sports advocacy program, some 500 pairs of shoes will also be given to the selected
students of different public schools in the city.