Hungduan, Ifugao – Edgar Puruganan nipped Benson Binwag by just over three minutes to pocket the men’s 50K race while Arlene Uyammi crossed the finish line ninth overall to rule the distaff side of the 2017 The Last Stand of Yamashita Trail Run last September 3, 2017, here.
Puruganan checked in at the 6:15:56.90 mark to reestablish the course record and become the first 50K runner to breach the tape, just a few ticks ahead of Binwag’s 6:18:19.90. Drexel Dino came in some 40 minutes later, at the 6:46:14.69 mark, to bag the bronze.
On the other hand, Uyammi checked in ninth overall at the 8:52:29.93 mark, to become the firs 50K female runner to arrive at the finish line. She was trailed about an hour by the first runner up, Cecille “Ces’ Cornista Wael, with a time of 9:50:30.76, good for 14th overall, and second runner up Kat Marasigan who turned up at the 10:41:57.50, good for15th overall.
Meanwhile, Louie Ganayan became runner of this year’s edition to literary break the tape to rule the men’s 21K race. He was followed by silver medalist Don Santillan and bronze winner Richard Akol.
Prudence Chakas clocked 2:51:20.82, good for 7th overall, to bag the female’s 21K race, nipping first runner up Gail Madrilejos, who has a time of 2:57:14.27, good for 8th overall, and second runner up Arlene Callang who checked in 11th overall with a time of a minute over three hours.
Puruganan and Binwag was the 70th and 71st runner to finish the race, ahead of two 21K finishers, while Uyammi was the 81st finisher.
The finishers were awarded with a certificate, a finisher’s medal, and a finisher’s shirt; and treated with a post-run meal.
Stephen Felices, Team Malaya’s Race Director, congratulated the runner and thanked the municipalities of Kiangan and Hungduan, Jannie Albano, Rowena Sicat, Barangay Captain Ramon, Jascel Picat, and the marshalls and tour guides of Kiangan and Hungduan for their contributions to the conduct of the race.
He also announced the group’s next trail run, the Benguet Goldrush Ultra 2017, slated to take place on December 16 to 17, 2017 at Itogon, Benguet. The Benguet Goldrush Ultra is the last leg of the Mountain Man Series
By: ARMANDO M. BOLISLIS, photo by WILFREDO DAOAS.
