Two titles in a week for Ruffa Sorongon

RUFFA Sorongon is making her way back to the top and she feels good about how she’s performing so far.

The 27-year-old Sultan Kudarat native, who is based in Cebu, won her second 21-kilometer title in just a week after she emerged as the fastest runner in the Run Rio Trilogy Cebu leg yesterday at the Cebu Business Park.

One of the few runners not part of a running club or team, Sorongon bagged the women’s 21k title after finishing in one hour, 36 minutes and 51 seconds. The win came a week after she ruled the ThreeSixty Pharmacy Health Run 21k race last February 25.

It is a welcome development for Sorongon, who has had a sub-par performance in 2017.

“It’s fulfilling to see that my training has paid off very well,” Sorongon said.

She’s actually off to a good start this year as she topped the 42-kilometer race of the Baybay City Marathon on January 7 and finished second in the 42k races of the Cebu Marathon 2018 on January 14 and 7-Eleven Run Cebu on February 4.

Sorongon said she is looking to compete in as many races this year.

“I am planning to join local races and hopefully win it all,” she said.

Sorongon is also planning to compete in the Philippine National Games (PNG) that will be held in Cebu City this May. She was recruited by veteran athletics coach Arvin Loberanis of the University of San Carlos (USC) to represent Cebu City in the middle distance races that will be featured in the track and field event of the PNG.

“But it depends on my training. I have to make my final decision if I will compete in PNG.”

Lovely Fe Andrin of Spectrum Runners Club trailed Sorongon at second place with a time of 1:40.40 followed by Marjorie Ellen Jore at third place with a time of 1:56.47.

In the men’s 21k race, Kenyan Eric Chepsiror, 34, captured the title by crossing the finish line at 1:10.24 followed by Joseph Emia (1:16.12) and another Kenyan Elliud Kering (1:18.14).