Sermona eyes win over foreign runners in 36th MILO Marathon national finals

Dizu (left) and Sermona on the podium
after winning the Angeles leg of the
36th MILO Marathon.

Rains and gusty wind failed to stop former MILO Marathon King Julius Sermona and Merdeliza Dizu from topping the fourth leg of the 36th National MILO Marathon held Sunday in Angeles City, organizers said in press release.


Sermona, a former member of the Philippine National Team, defied the heavy downpour and posted a time of one hour, 12 minutes and two seconds to lead several other runners qualify for the National Finals set on December 9 at the Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City. 


“I focused on endurance training, road running, a once-a-week work out, and hard training,” said 34-year-old Sermona whose personal best in the full marathon was  2:21:53 which he posted in the 30th MILO Marathon National Finals in 2006.

“For the finals, I plan to increase the volume and intensity of my routine. I plan to run a few short-distance divisional races and add about 5 to 10-k to my training as well.”


“My goal is to win the finals. I want to defeat the Kenyans in the open division, which is why I hope to avoid injuries,” added Sermona, who won the silver medals in the 5k and and 10k runs of  the 2007 Bangkok Southeast Asian Games.

Completing the top three cast in the men’s 21-k category are Quisay Alley with 1:14:11 in second place and Ryan Mendoza with 1:17:32 in third place.

In the women's category, Merdeliza Dizu outrun veteran Geralden Sealza in the final 200 meters to notch the victory. Sealza clocked in 1:37:21 followed by Marychiel Minas-Morales with a time of 1:42:04.

“Since school started this June, I have been training everyday for an hour. I focus on endurance since I’m used to being a mid-distance runner,” said Dizu. “This is actually the first time I ran the 21-k track. I’m very happy to win.”

The 19–year old Dizu added that she has yet to decide whether to pursue the local or open category this year. “It depends on my coach. I am still trying to pace myself and to gauge my capabilities as a runner.”

Both Sermona and Dizu qualified for the 36th National MILO Marathon Finals set on December 9 at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) ground in Pasay City.

Other early qualifiers include former three-time National MILO Marathon King Eduardo Buenavista (1:13:29) and veteran Miscelle Gilbuena (1:37:29) after they topped the Tarlac City elimination leg last week.

MILO Marathon organizers said  6,150 registered runners participated in the Angeles City leg held for the first time in the premiere city of Pampanga.

Organizers said that five schools - Angeles Elementary School, Cutud Elementary School, Teodoro P. Tinio Elementary School, Belen Homesite Elementary School and Abelardo Tinio Elementary School - were the beneficiary of MILO's "Help Give Shoes" advocacy program.


After the Angeles City Leg, the qualifying race will shift to Metro Manila on July 29, Naga on Aug. 19, San Pablo, Laguna on Sept. 2, Lipa, Batangas on Sept. 16, Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Sept. 23, Tagbilaran on Sept. 30, Cebu on Oct. 7, Bacolod on Oct. 14, Iloilo on Oct. 28, Gen. Santos on Nov. 4, Davao on Nov. 11, Butuan on Nov. 18 and Cagayan de Oro City on No. 25. The 36th MILO Marathon National Finals is slated on December 9 at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasig City.

Below is the list of runners who qualified for the 36th MILO Marathon national finals: