Collegiate stalwarts made their presence felt by sweeping the categories played in the 1st Manila 5000 Run Sunday at the CCP Complex in Pasay City.
Mervin Guarte, the San Sebastian freshman who bagged the MVP honors in the NCAA athletics competition, dominated the Elite category for runners whose best time in the 5K race is at 20 minutes and below.
Mervin Guarte raises his arms after crossing the finish line. GMANews.TV
Sharing the spotlight with Guarte were University of Santo Tomas' Serenata Saluan and another SSC bet, Justine Tabunda, who topped the 5K Open races.
The 17-year-old native of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro needed a big windup to spoil the challenge of veteran runners Jujet De Asis and Alquin Bolivar.
Guarte timed in at 13 minutes and 10 seconds, eight ticks faster than De Asis (13:18), and 13 better than Bolivar (13:23).
“
Bakbakan kaming tatlo hanggang sa last 2 kilometers
at nakalamang na ako. Sa last 500 [meters],
di ko napansin nakahabol si Jujet [De Asis]
kaya kailangan ko pang tumodo [on the way to the finish line}," said Guarte.
It was the fourth time Guarte and De Asis met in a 5K distance with the younger runner from San Sebastian claiming his third victory overall.
“
Magkaribal talaga kami niyan [Guarte]
sa 5K
at talagang malakas siya at hindi na ako makahabol. Mabigat din ang katawan ko dahil tumakbo kami ni Alquin noong Sabado [in another running competition].
Bawi na lamang ako sa susunod," said De Asis.
For his effort, Guarte took home P3,000 while De Asis and Bolivar took home P2,000 and P1,000, respectively.
Saluan, who won a combined seven gold medals while competing in the UAAP and CHED National Games, and Tabunda reigned supreme in the women's and mens' 5K Open categories, respectively.
The reigning UAAP athletics MVP, Saluan led from start to finish en route to a winning 16:17 mark.
Former UST trackster and national pool member Nhea Ann Barcena finished second with 16:37 while FEU’s Dalyn Carmen took third with 16:46.
Tabunda, for his part, outsprinted fellow San Sebastian bet Michael Bacong to win the men’s title.
He posted 13:27, five seconds ahead of Bacong (13:32) and eight ticks faster than third-placer Ferdinand Corpuz (13:35). -
GMANews.TV
