From left, Nic Nacorda, Cen Manguilimotan and Joel Baring show off the race bib and the singlet to be used in the upcoming Hunat Sugbu 7.
CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO
Slowly shaping up to be one of the premier footraces in Cebu, this year’s Hunat Sugbo (Dagan Para ni Maning) promises to be bigger and better, as for the first time in its young history, the race will be using timing chips for its longer distances.
Organized by the Cebu Parklane International Hotel as a tribute to the hotel’s former president, the late Manuel G. Ting, the race’s seventh edition will be held on June 25 at The Terraces of Ayala Center Cebu.
“It’s a welcome improvement. Using timing chips will help us come up with a more effective and fast race results for the runners,” said Cen Manguilimotan, general manager of Parklane, in the event’s press launching yesterday.
Manguilimotan was joined in the press briefing by Nic Nacorda, chairman of Hunat Sugbo, and race director Joel Baring.
“There has been a clamor to improve the race like a faster releasing of the runners’ time so we came up with the idea of using timing chips,” said Nacorda.
The timing chips will be available only for the 12-kilometer and 21k distances.
“We are advising runners to register early. We want to avoid what happened last year where there were late registrants. There are only 500 slots for the 12k and 700 for the 21k so they have to register early as we might not be able to accommodate late registrants,” said Manguilimotan.
Aside from the 12 and 21k distances, there will also be 3k and 6k categories. All distances will have the male and female categories.
Last year’s edition was the most attended race with 2,200, and for this year, organizers are hoping to attract 2,500 runners.
“Some runners have been asking if we can have a full marathon. We are planning to have a 42k category in the future, but for now, we will only have the 21k as the longest distance until we get enough sponsors,” said Nacorda.
Because of the use of timing chips, there will be an increase of P50 for the registration fees.
Registration fees are pegged at P400 for the 3k race, P500 for 6k, P700 for P12k and P800 for 21k.
Registration started yesterday at the Parklane lobby.
A total of P72,000 in cash prizes are at stake. Aside from plaques, finisher’s medals will also be given away in the 12k and 21k distances.
Cash prizes in the 21k race are as follows: P6,000 (champion), P4,000 (second), P3,000 (third), P2,000 (fourth) and P1,000 (fifth). The 12k category is dangling P4,000 (champion), P3,000 (second), P2,000 (third), P1,000 (fourth) and P500 (fifth). In the 6k race, champion will get P3,000 while the second and third placers will receive P2,000 and P1,000, respectively.
A cash prize of P2,000 will be given to the 3k champion while the second and third placers will pocket P1,000 and P500, respectively.
The race will also serve as a charity event as part of the proceeds will be used in a medical mission in partnership with Jesu Christi.
A portion of the proceeds will also be donated to the Cebu Ultra Runners Club, the group behind the “Basura Run.”