Agura settles for 2nd spot in QCIM

NEWCOMER Everlyne Atancha exploited  Filipina runner Janet Agura’s early mistake to break away and  cop the women’s title, highlighting another Kenyan domination of the 4th SMDC Quezon City International Marathon last Sunday in front of the Quezon Memorial Circle.

Winner of the Bangkok Marathon just two weeks ago, Atancha, 24, was only a 100 meters ahead of Agura when the latter  took  a wrong turn inside the UP Diliman campus at the four-kilometer point after a marshal failed to guide her to the right course of the race that began at twilight.

The 35-year-old La Salle-Lipa athletic coach lost ground and by the time she got back on track, Atancha was too far ahead and coasted to victory in a slow time of three hour and 29 seconds to win the top pot of P75,000 in the international division.

“It was humid and I was still recovering from my race in the Bangkok Marathon,” said the 24-year-old Nairobi native after victory.


“Mga four minutes rin ang nawala sa akin nuong maligaw ako kaya wala ng pag-asang humabol sa Kenyan,” said Agura who clocked 3:33.38 and settled for the runner-up  purse of P50,000.

Atancha’s compatriot, Patrober Kombe (3:40.01) bagged third place and got P35,000 in the competition.

Kib Tallam slipped past close friend Geofrey Bigen to lead a 1-2-3 Kenyan finish in the men’s international division of the races organized by the Executive Runners Club of the Phils. Inc. (Runnex) and the Quezon City government led by Mayor Herbert Bautista and Joy Belmonte.

Elmer Sabal shows of his trophy after
the awarding ceremonies.

Tallam  pocketed P75,000 in topping the contest in 2:31.00, Bigen, who eased up in the last 100 meters and didn’t see his countryman bearing down on him, was second (2:31.07) and earned P50,000 while Philip Ronoh (2:38.46) finished third and took home P35,000.

Armyman Elmer Sabal tried to keep pace with the Kenyans but faded in the last 21 kilometers and emerged as the topnotcher among the locals after finishing fourth overall (2:42.47) and earned P30,000.

On the distaff side, Luisa Raterta (3:25.32), who was actually fourth overall in the women’s race, likewise earned P30,000 as the top female runner in the local division.

Pretty Nhee Ann Barcelona broke the Kenyan grip in the women’s international division with a winning time of 1:31.49 to earn P30,000 while Kenyan Johndan Maru (1:08.22) was tops in the men’s division.

Alley Quisay (1:12.40) and Jannette Lumidaao (1:31.32) were the topnotchers in the men’’s and women’s 21K local division and took P21,000 apiece during awarding ceremonies.

BY THE WAY

Lost but returned to its rightful owner. Mabuhay ang
kabutihang asal ng mga Pinoy.

I want to thank the person/s who returned my old but sturdy coin purse. I probably lost the purse when I opened my bag after getting it back from the baggage counter following my 10k run.

It was probably an hour or probably more when I realized that I lost the purse. I was trying to locate it to pay for breakfast with a cousin, who luckily paid for hotsilog (hotdog, sinangag and itlog) when the purse failed to turn up where I placed it.

Happily, the purse which contained an amount which I can consider huge based on my earnings as a non-governmental organization (NGO) employee, was returned to me. Also in the purse are two USBs, coins and my key, which I considered as the most important item in the purse.

I have already given up that the purse will be returned since there are thousands of runners and spectators last Sunday inside the Quezon Memorial Circle.

But kind-hearted people returned it. Thank you to those who found the purse.  Yes, runners, there remains a huge number of Filipinos who are honest. THANK YOU!!!