Determination is etched on these sprinters’ faces during yesterday’s Milo Marathon-Cebu leg at Osmeña Boulevard.
CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON
Tillor cruises to victory anew in Cebu leg of Milo Marathon, says he’s ready for Nationals
Even before the Cebu leg of the Milo Marathon started, 30-year-old Noel Tillor already knew he had an inside track at winning the 21-kilometer title again.
Beaming with confidence, the Bogo City, Cebu-native Tillor fulfilled his earlier predictions, topping once again the 21k men’s division of the prestigious annual footrace that started in front the Cebu Normal University campus along Osmeña Boulevard and ended at the Cebu City Sports Center on Sunday.
The win bagged Tillor a slot to the National Finals slated Dec. 6 in Angeles, Pampanga, where he will try to improve on his eighth-place finish last year.
It is the second straight year that Tillor won the Cebu leg and it seemed he already knew he’d accomplish such feat early on.
OFF TO NATIONALS. Cebu leg men’s champ, Noel Tillor.
CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO
“I already knew who my fellow competitors were, that’s why I told myself ‘I can win this,’” Tillor said. “I knew my fellow competitors also trained hard for this race but I just did my best and gave my all to defend this precious title.”
Knowing that he had an advantage over the rest of the pack, Tillor went on to lead the race from start to finish.
“There were some who tried to pace me but they did not manage to keep up. I am very happy because I led throughout the entire race,” he said. “This win is very special for me because it’s back-to-back wins. Only a few people can do that.”
Tillor, who also works as an auto mechanic and part-time trainer for newbie runners, finished in one hour, 14 minutes and 46 seconds, a minute shy of his personal record of 1:13.
TIME FOR CEBUANO
TO SHINE
His confidence didn’t stop after winning the race. In fact, he said he’s looking forward to a better finish in the Nationals.
“It’s been a long time that a Cebuano has won the title in the men’s division of the 42k race. I think it’s time that a Cebuano will rise up,” he said. “I am ready for the national finals. I am up to the challenge to go up against the best runners in the country.”
Leyte’s Narceso Deterala (1:16.36) and former Milo Marathon-Cebu leg champion Adonis Singson (1:17.29) were runners-up to Tillor.
In the distaff side, Sultan Kudarat-native Ruffa Sorongan won the 21k title by clocking 1:29.05 as she took advantage of the absence of back-to-back defending champion and Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Mary Joy Tabal, who skipped yesterday’s race and decided to compete in the General Santos Leg on Oct. 18.
Ruffa Sorongan
CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO
Just like Tillor, Sorongan led the race from start to finish to capture the title, the P10,000-purse and the ticket to the national finals.
Miscelle Gilbuena (1:32.04) and Lizane Abella (1:42.5) finished second and third, respectively.
The 10k champions were Prince Joey Lee (33:22 ) and Geneda Arcuino (42:35).
In the 5k race, multi-titled trackster Mary Joy Loberanis of the University of San Carlos-Basic Education (USC-BED) topped the female side with a time of 18:58 while John Cliff Debolusan ruled the male division, finishing in 16:14.
Champions in the 3k division were nine-year-old Jessel Ochia of Guba Elementary School (12:00) and Joseph Antiola (11:34). Ochia is part of the group in Guba being trained by Tabal and her coach John Philip Dueñas.
FUN IN RUNNING. Two kids share a light moment in the middle of their run.
CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON
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