BAGUIO CITY – Gretchen T. Felipe of the Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) landed fourth place behind the champion from Norway, 2nd from Hongkong and 3rd Pinay from Baguio City in the 50-kilometer category of the international race series of The North Face ultra marathon held over the weekend at Camp John Hay with 258 foreign runners.
Felipe crossed the finish line with a time record of 8 hours and 24 minutes. “I went 3km back when I was at the turning point of cruise Ampucao to get my hydro bag and head gear as was mandatorily required to continue the run or else I would be disqualified. They named me ‘I shall return’ ” Felipe said dismayed of her own act. “Many of my co racers are until now at the hospital injured during the run. I enjoyed the trails but it really tough to cross the rocky terrain elevations; canes were needed in going up. We needed to bend to cross paths” she added.
Together with Felipe was Merychelle M. Morales from Baguio City who bagged the second place. She received cash and product prizes plus trophy.
Felipe, enrolled in the College of Teacher Education, is an athletic varsity member of the said institution who started her running career in 2012. She topped The North Face run 50K Women’s Division played by 18 countries in 2013.
The said run reportedly, now on its eighth year, was the first and the most anticipated distance trail running series expected to draw local and overseas trail runners and running enthusiasts in the Asia Pacific region done in the one of the most challenging, unspoiled, and breathtaking landscapes in the Philippines, in the rugged trails of the Cordillera Mountain Range in Baguio City and Benguet province.
About 1,430 racers from 16 nationalities across the Asia Pacific in the 100K, 50K, 22K and 11K distances that started and ended at Camp John Hay running through Ampucao and Mt. Cabuyao competed.
Reportedly, organizers announced the official route change of the courses because of the existence of Permanent Environmental Protection Order (PEPO) in the Sto. Tomas reservation which also covers Mt. Cabuyao, were vital routes in the 100Km. and 50Km. race routes.
The North Face TNF 100 Philippines 2015 was held on June 12, 2015 in Nuvali – Tagaytay – Batangas.
This year’s The North Face 100 run registration fees were P 5,000 or $110 for 100K and P 4,500 or $100 for 50K which included: authentic limited edition TNF100 2016, race bib, finisher’s medal (for first 500 Finishers of each category), TNF sticker or discount voucher, supplemental nutrition at select aid stations, cash and product prizes plus trophy for winners, raffle entry and customized digital printable certificate.
By NORIE S. INUMPA – PADNGARAN
