Mindanotoday.com | Visiting runners rule 50k road race in Oro
By: URIEL QUILINGUING
A Pagadian City-based firefighter and Bukidnon province’s top female trail runner stamped their class, finishing ahead of over a hundred who took the challenge on Saturday, November 18, of a 50-kilometer out-and-back Higalaay Ultramarathon 2023 in Cagayan de Oro, a city-government sanctioned sports tourism event.
Thirty-one-year-old Ronel Gimeno, a fire officer of the Bureau of Fire Protection Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9), emerged as the inaugural champion of the 1st HUM for the men’s division. He is a member of the Enduro Runners Club, Pagadian City.
Anthony Subing-subing, a 43-year-old member of Malaybalay Runners who has been Northern Mindanao’s consistent long-distance campaigners settled for the second spot. Thirty-year old Henry Valencia, a Philippine National Police personnel, was third.
On the distaff side, Noime Fernandez, the country’s fourth-seeded female elite athlete in short trail category by the Philippine Trail Running Association (PhilTRA) was too much for her pursuers for the championship plum. It was a tune-up for the 41-year-year-old Bukidnon native for the PhilTRA-accredited Cordillera Mountain Ultra 2023 on December 8 and 9 this year, a national ranking competition.
Iligan Trail Runners’ Neizl June Abad, 34, and Kugihan Team’s Aileen Akut, 40, ended up with first and second runner-up honors. There were 30 other female runners who signed up for the lung-busting 50-kilometer challenge from Cagayan de Oro City Hall quadrangle to upland village of Tignapoloan where the turning point was.
Felixberto Bongcales, the oldest participant at 77 years old, reached the finish line just behind champion in 60+ age group, 61-year-old Reymundo Tingson of Medina Bay Runners, Misamis Oriental. Bongcales was first runner-up.
In the 25-kilometer run, the overall winners were Shin Ragabin, champion; Benjamin Obod, second; and Renilo Pausal, third in the male classification. For females, the top three were Ann Monette Doplon, champion; Liezel Lumindes, second; and Eugenie Neri, third.
Race Director Armando Tonido said they had registered a total of 280 runners; 125 in the 50-kilometer distance while the rest in 25-kilometer category on October 31, 2023, the last day of registration.
“All those who started, finished,” Tonido said, when asked for his overall assessment of the race.
Aside from the overall, top three winners were declared in five age-group categories, for both distances, male and female gender classification, and received plaques and certificates. Those who completed the race got their finisher’s shirts, medals, and post-race meals.
Registration fee was P2,300 for 50K and P1,700 for 25K. Net proceeds will benefit Cagayan de Oro’s Homecare for the Girls and the Bahay Pag-asa for the Boys.
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