Unabia, Cadion rule CdO Milo Marathon elims

Thousands participated in the MILO run in Cagayan de Oro last Sunday

Defending regional champion Arnold Unabia topped the Cagayan de Oro eliminations of the 35th National Milo Marathon last Sunday and is now expecting a tough stint in the National Finals, organizers said in a press statement.

The 33-year-old Unabia ruled the 21K men's division in one hour, 14 minutes and two seconds, barely beating Jeffrey Sotto (1:14:11) and Gerald Sabal (1:14:13).  Crifrankreadel Indapan (1:14:36) and Jerald Zabala (1:14:58) occupied the next two places.

Two 18-year-olds--Cresabel Cadion (1:34:38) and Roxanne Maaba (1:38:08)--finished 1-2 in the distaff side while Lezette Aibarote (1:44:50) was third.  All three will join the 18 male qualifiers in the December 11 National finals Which will award P300,000 each to the top male and female finisher.

Unabia, 13th in last year's national finals, will try to nail the crown for the fifth time.  A regular fixture in Cebu and CDO races, he is hoping he will have enough time to train for the December event.

“I was more prepared last year. I had less preparation this year because I had to juggle training with my coaching of kid runners," said Unabia, who works for the Tangub City government as running coach.

Unabia

Unabia's daily training for the past six months include long runs for two hours in the morning and endurance training in the afternoon.  He has mastered the flat CDO course.

“From the start, I was just pacing with the lead pack. In the last two kilometers, it was just me, Sotto and Sabal and so I really exerted all my energy about 1 kilometer before the finish line. We were neck to neck but luckily I finished first,” Unabia recounted.

Unabia said he is wary of the younger runners come the National Finals but he has one motivation why he wants to make to at least make it to the top 10.

"I want Filipinos to own the top 10.  I hope we can beat the Kenyan and Ethiopian runners," said Unabia.

Sotto, who works as a utility man at the Philippine Institute of Science and Technology in Iligan, said his lack of training showed in his performance.

“It would have been nice to beat Unabia and claim the Cagayan do Oro championship but I really had little training," said the 27-year-old Sotto.  "I will work harder and be better for the finals."

Female winner Cadion, ran her second 21K race.  Her first half marathon race last year, also in Cagayan de Oro, resulted in a third place finish.

"I didn't really find the race challenging in terms of route and competition," said Cadion, a Business Administration student of St. Columbian College in Pagadian.  "But I really planned to start strong and that allowed me to gain a wide lead right away."

Cadion

8,974 runners participated in the different race categories, including the 10K which was won by Glenn Arellano (33:55) and Sheena Maxicom (45:16).

Milo Sports Events Assistant Vice President Patricio Goc-ong expressed elation over the marathon’s turnout and the overall success of the race with the help of local organizers, Jeffrey Ang and Francis Velasquez of Cirlce Productions.

The Cagayan de Oro Marathon participants were able to raise a total of 500 pairs of shoes for students of South City Central School, Tablon Elementary School, Cagayan de Oro National High School, Alae National High School and Agusan Elementary School, as part of its ‘Help Give Shoes’ advocacy.

After the Cagayan de Oro leg,  the race heads further into Mindanao with races slated in Butuan (Oct23), General Santos (Oct 30) and Davao City (Nov 6). The National Finals will be held in Manila on December 11 at the SM Mall of Asia.