Press Release: Languido, Cadion top CDO MILO marathon qualifiers

Cagayan de Oro, Philippines (September 29, 2013) - Despite heavy downpour mid-race, veteran runner Juneil Languido persevered and dethroned last yearâ's local 21K top placer Jeffrey Sotto Sunday at the 37th National MILO Marathon Cagayan de Oro qualifying race.

Local bet Cresabel Cadion, who placed first in 2011, also forged a victory against her closest pursuers and managed to take back the CDO crown that was once hers in a race participated by 11,785 runners,

Languido and Cadion each received the P10,000 top purse for their respective victories, and are set to lead 34 other 21K qualifiers to the finale in December.

This is Languido's fourth trip to the MILO Marathon National Finals, following a seventh place finish in the finale last year.  As an added incentive to this year'€™s national final winners, MILO will be sending the MILO Marathon King and Queen to the 2014 Paris Marathon to compete with the world's finest athletes.

Languido reaches the finish line by his lonesome.

29-year old Languido, who posted won last season's Cebu qualifying  race, clocked in at one hour, 12 minutes and 39 seconds, beating fellow Bukidnon native Ramil Neri (1:14:55) and former CDO champion Jeffrey Sotto (1:15:30). Languido was expected to compete in the earlier Cebu qualifiers, and surprised both spectators and runners alike when he showed up at the starting line of today'€™s race.

In the women's side, Cadion, who placed third in last year's Cagayan de Oro leg, posted a time of 1:31:22, way ahead of Davao runner Vivian Avergonzado (1:39:35) and Lezette Albarote (1:43:45).

"€œToday'™s run was fine, as I was able to maintain my pace throughout the race. My training focuses a lot on endurance, particularly on distance running and strength training," said Cadion, who has joined the MILO Marathon since she was 15. "

"€œRunning helps provide financial support for my studies, so I'm determined to perform well and hopefully place in the National Finals."€

Wrapping up the day’s special awards are members of Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGHS), which, with 1,705 finishers and an average time of 19:02, took home both the Biggest Delegation and Fastest Delegation plums.

Based on MILO's Give Shoes advocac, a total of 500 pairs were delivered to beneficiary schools in Cagayan de Oro, bringing the total shoe count to 29,700. Consolacion Elementary School, Bulua National High School, Puerto National High School, Macabalan Elementary School and Kauswagan Central School were among the advocacy's beneficiaries.

"€œThe best stories in the MILO Marathon are rooted in the most remarkable Filipino values. Through the years, we have taught our runners that victory is not the purpose of each race, but building the passion to finish it, so that if they ever have to face defeat, they can only be motivated to run again," said Andrew Neri, MILO Sports Executive. €œThat'€™s why we continue to grow in numbers each year. We believe that our runners will continue to begin and finish each challenge with the heart and attitude of true athletes."

The qualifying race will continue in Butuan on October 6, before advancing to Davao (October 13), General Santos (October 20), Baguio (November 3), Dagupan (November 10), Tarlac (November 17) and Angeles (November 24). The 37th MILO Marathon National Finals will be on December 8 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds.

The 37th National MILO Marathon is made possible by Timex, the Bayview Park Hotel Manila, Reebok, SMART, and SM Mall of Asia, along with endorsements from the Department of Education, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee. For more information on the race and its advocacy, visit the MILO marathon website or access the MILO Philippines fanpage on Facebook. Follow MILO on Twitter (@MILOPH).