Itogon, Benguet – Ultra-marathoner Drex Dino and Maria Luisa Prado led nearly 80 runners who blazed the trails of Team Malaya’s Benguet Gold Rush under sunny skies and with little humidity last December 4, 2016 at Ampucao, here.
Dino dominated the trail of the 50-kilometer race, punching the tape at the 7:30:41 mark. This is Dino’s 4th top finish in five Team malaya events this year. Jomar Buclay arrived about an hour later, checking in at the 08:02:13.14, almost simultaneously with Ivan Buyayo’s 08:02:13.80.
Only two women survived the challenging 50K distance with Maria Luisa Prado posting a time of 11:00:06.37 to come in about two hours ahead of the other finisher, Elmimie Damuggo, with 13:07:01.67.
Louie Ganayan emerged as champion with the time of 03:22:35 in shorter 21-kilometer race that did not lack extreme action. Like in the 50K race the second and third placer came in way after the winner but neck-in-neck. Fletcher Cuyaman rolled in a 04:08:43.25 to finish second and George Alcido checked in just milliseconds later with a time of 04:08:43.93 for the bronze.
Meanwhile, Prudence Chakas dug herself a comfortable enough lead over the women’s field. She arrived at 04:25:28 to bag the gold. Myrna Batiyeg arrived 13 minutes later with a time of 04:38:22.36 for the silver closely followed by Masinnay Fokno with a time of 04:43:14.52, who arrived some five minutes later.
The Benguet Gold Rush Run, nicknamed as DNF (Do Not Fear), was the third and final leg of the Mountain Man Series. Part of the race trail ran through majestic views, and has its magnet of charms and the thrill of sternness accompanied by steep up and down hills while overlooking Binga Dam in Tinongdan, Itogon.
Race Director Stephen Felices is preparing the next rounds of his organization’s trail run series that intends to present different scenery in the Cordilleras. For starters, Team Malaya is already accepting registration for the 2017 Sagada Mountain Marathon. The event will have its gunstart on February 26, 2016, Sunday, at 5:00AM in Sagada, Mt. Province.
Registrants to 4th edition of this “Apay Kapoy” run from today until December 31, 2016 will get a 20% discount of the registration fees. Also, group registration of 10 runners will get two additional slots while group registration of 5 will get one more slot for free.
Registration fee for the 21k is pegged at P1,500 while it is P2,500 for the 42K category.
By: Daphne Guevarra.