Running couple Pagay, Sorongon take Cebu City Marathon’s 42K men’s, women’s titles
These are the top 5 men’s finishers of the Cebu City Marathon. | Mars G. Alison
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Long distance running couple Azlan Pagay and Ruffa Sorongon started the year 2020 right by clinching the men’s and women’s titles of the Cebu City Marathon (CCM), which started and ended early Sunday morning, January 12, 2020 at the Cebu Business Park.
Pagay crossed the finish line with a time of two hours, 53 minutes and 45 seconds (2:53:45) to finally clinch the 42-kilometer title after several attempts.
“Lipay kaayo. Pirmi man ko maka podium pero fourth ra,” said the 26-year-old Pagay, who added that “ga expect jud ko nga makuha ni nako, gipangandaman jud ni namo kay part pud ni sa amo training para sa Milo.”
(I’m very happy. I have always made it to the podium but only in fourth place. I was really expecting that I would get this because we really prepared for this. This is also part of our training for Milo.)
Pagay’s long time girlfriend, Ruffa Sorongon, said that they started intensively preparing for the Cebu City Marathon last January 2.
Sorongon, who bagged her second straight 42K title, earlier told CDN Digital that her new year’s resolution is to wake up early so she could get to train and not get lazy.
She defended her title after clocking 3:25:34. The 28-year-old Sorongon said that she hadn’t taken the lead at the start.
She was about 200 meters behind the lead pack but she started closing in and finally broke away to take the lead after 20 kilometers and from there did not look back.
Sorongon said she liked that the race had returned to the South Road Properties (SRP), but she did not like going through the tunnels because the atmosphere was very humid.
Placing second to Pagay was his close friend Joseph Arnel Emia of Cebu City Omega Pro who clocked 2:54:54. Rounding up the top 3 was Michael Largo who finished with a time of 3:05:57.
These are the top 5 women finishers of the Cebu City Marathon. | Mars G. Alison
In the distaff side, Sorongon was trailed by Evamie Villarin who was at far second with her time of 3:34:00 while salvaging third place was Lizzne Abella who clocked 3:41:42.
Bagging the 21K men’s title was Kenyan Eric Chepsiror after breasting the tape at 1:15:42. Prince Joey Lee was at second with 1:18:02 while Fabian Downs completed the top 3 with his time of 1:20:01.
Taking the title in the distaff side was Cherry Andrin who clocked 1:40:21. Placing second and third, respectively, were Engiel Estillorie (1:50:24) and Jenefer Paloma (1:56:15).
Reigning in the 5K were Alfrence Braza and one of the top young triathletes in Cebu, Mariel Estreba. Braza clocked 16:36 while Estreba had a time of 19:50.
Second and third places in the men’s division were Florencio Lapiz (16:49) and Jaymar Magdaleno (17:07), respectively.
Completing the top 3 in the distaff side were Asia Paraase in second with her time of 20:35 while Moira Frances Erediano, another of Cebu’s top young triathletes, finished third with a time of 20:56./dbs
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