Sports
Running: Kenyan rules 42K Condura Run 2010 in Taguig
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Feb 7, 2010 - 2:58:34 PM

y Lily O Ramos

MANILA, Feb. 8 (PNA) -- Kenyan runner David Kipsang clocked 2:38:02 to win the P60,000 top prize of the 42- kilometer Condura Run 2010 early Sunday morning at the Global City in Taguig.

However, the tall runner did not bother to go up the stage to get his paycheck from Condura's president and chief operating officer, Ton Concepcion and representatives of a slew of sponsors.

The third Condura Run attracted more than 8,000 runners in the 3, 5, 10, 21 and 42-kilometer fund raising races to protect the dolphins in Pamilacan Island in Bohol. It is also the first to be run on the world-class Skyway.

Kipsang had the marathon running Sabal brothers Elmer and Cris closely following his heels from the starting line, but he eventually pulled away from them at the Skyway for another close triumph.

"We were doggedly close to him until the last four kilometers, when we were coming back. I felt some exhaustion when Elmer and I were just about 15-km behind but I recovered fast.

"My calculation is we're about a hundred meters away from him at the end of the race but we allowed Kipsang to take the title," said the 31-year-old Cris Sabal who ended up third by logging 2:39.40 for P20,000.

His younger brother, Elmer, placed second with a clocking of 2:38.59 for a P40,000 check.

Sabal claimed Kipsang was the same fellow who also won in last year's international marathon in Quezon City and that he has overstayed in the country for more than three months already.

Another runner wondered out loud if David Kipsang is the same person as David Kiptanui who was also a champion in the recent Quezon City marathon.

"I am piqued because I think we're making champions of guys who are not legal citizens of the country. I have nothing against foreign runners but he's an overstaying alien since November 2009 and nobody is moving to deport him," said Cris after the awarding ceremony.

"It is a well-known fact that the Kenyans have been country-hopping to join marathons and runs to earn their keep. We've seen them in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and other countries. It must be a fun way of making money for them," added Elmer.

In the distaff side, three Kenyan ladies scored a sweep in the 42-km race with Peris Powyo (3:16.48), Susan Chemutai (3:19.52) and Roterta Luisa (3:20:39) for first, second and third places.

It's Marcil Maquilan (1:30.59), Rhea Ann Barcena (1:39.59), Jacqueline Rohbach (1:44:43)9) in the 21-km; Marceditas Fetalvero (38:39), Monica Torres (42:19), and Divine Grace Tapit (42:20) in the 5-km; and Vanessa Bardoloso (13:05, Michaela Guieb (15:17), and Hazel Bacolod, respectively, in the 3-km race.

Meanwhile, winners in the men's 3-km were Michael Bacong (9:10), Kimbert Sarmiento (9:13) and Carlito Fontilaga (9:15).

Seventeen-year-old San Sebastian Mervin Guarte (15:18) captured the 5-km category, followed by Justin Tabunda (15:26) and Rudolph Capuchino (18:51).

Willy Tanui (32:21), Irineo Roaquin (32:53) and Alejandro Ben (33:27) ruled the 10-km race.

The 21-km. event went to Eric Panique (1:12.53), Alquin Bolivar (1:12:54) and Alley Quisay (1:12.55), respectively. (PNA)
scs/LOR