The
champions received PHP 150,000 in cash and a trophy each. Tabal
received an additional PHP 250,000 for placing second in the 42K female
open category. Both will also be sent by MILO to Canada on all-expense
paid trips to represent the Philippines in the 2017 Ottawa Marathon. “By
sending them to the Ottawa Marathon, we are also giving them a chance
to be able to qualify for the Olympics,” said Andrew Neri, MILO Sports
Marketing Manager. “The Ottawa Marathon is a race where elite runners
can achieve the qualifying standard for the Olympics. We are very happy
to provide this opportunity to our champions.”
Olympian
and SEA Games silver medalist Tabal broke her own record by posting her
time of 2:47:49, enabling her to win a special prize of an additional
PHP 50,000. Following Tabal were Christabel Martes (03:10:11) in second
place and Lizane Abella (03:14:27) in third. Meanwhile,
Agravante posted a time of 02:35:13, besting his closest rivals Maclin
Sadia (02:35:22) and Julius Sermonia (02:37:01) who came in second and
third, respectively.
A
month ago, Tabal was worried about defending her crown in this year’s
finals. “I only had minimal training for this race because I have been
training and racing so much this year. I was scared of getting injuries
and burnout,” said Tabal. “However, my coach John Philip Dueñas
reassured me that he is confident I have prepared well. I ran today with
a relaxed pace and just maintained it. I’m very happy that I won.”
Tabal will now prepare for the 2017 Ottawa Marathon and the 2017 SEA
Games happening in August 2017.
Agravante
was ecstatic about winning his first ever MILO Marathon King trophy.
“The closest I came to winning in the Finals was in 2004, where I placed
third. I really wasn’t expecting to win because there are so many great
runners who joined this race,” said Agravante. “It was a pleasant race
with a flat route and I was able to enjoy it very much at a relaxed
pace.” He has a few more races lined up for the rest of the year before
he starts his preparations for the 2017 Ottawa Marathon.
Coach Rio Dela Cruz, race organizer of the 40th
National MILO Marathon National Finals in Iloilo, declared the running
event a massive success. “We are very happy with the support that the
local government has given us to create this exciting race. We would
like to thank everyone in Iloilo who made this possible, especially to
Mayor Jed Mabilog,” said Dela Cruz. “We hope the runners enjoyed the
total race experience – the wide roads, the scenic route, the seaside
and esplanade views, and the very good weather we had today.”
MILO
Sports Marketing Manager Andrew Neri is proud of the feat that the
National MILO Marathon has achieved to date. “The National MILO Marathon
has so much history and we are honored to say that we have been
energizing champions and inspiring millions through our runners for the
past 40 years,” shared Neri. “We are grateful to everyone who
participated and contributed in this year’s season, and we hope to see
everyone again in 2017!”
The
National Milo Marathon is not only a breeding ground for local talents
but also a program that empowers children nationwide. For the past six
years, the National Milo Marathon’s Help Give Shoes advocacy, in
partnership with the Department of Education, has inspired 60,000
aspiring athletes to fulfill their dreams by donating brand new pairs of
running shoes. This year, the Help Give Shoes advocacy will be donating
10,000 pairs to underprivileged school children.
In 2017, the 41st
National MILO Marathon will kick off in Urdaneta on July 16, followed
by races in Laoag (July 23), Pasay (July 30), Angeles (August 6), Tarlac
(August 13), Antipolo (August 20), Naga (August 27), Lucena (September
3), Lipa (September 10), Imus (September 17), Tacloban (September 24),
Roxas (October 1), Iloilo (October 8), General Santos (October 29),
Davao (November 5), Butuan (November 12), and Cagayan De Oro (November
19). The National Finals will be held in Cebu on December 3.
The 40th
National MILO Marathon is made possible by the Philippine Sports
Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Department of Education and
the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, and is supported
by Asics, Salonpas, TIMEX, 2XU, Endurance, Hisense, Maynilad and
PhilamLife.
For more information on MILO Philippines, log on to the official website (http://www.milo.com.ph) or the MILO Philippines Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/milo.ph). Follow MILO on Twitter (@MiloPH) and Instagram (@MiloPhilippines).
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