Antipolo runners rule Laguna Lake racefest

With their best player hurting in the last stage of the First Laguna Lake Challenge, there’s no way the Airforce-Brooks could overcome a huge deficit against the front-running Antipolo sprinters. An injured Eduardo Buenavista showed up for the Airforce-Brooks, but that wasn’t enough to inspire his team in mounting a big rally as Antipolo held on to the lead until the final day en route to securing the championship Sunday at the Tiendesitas in Pasig City. Handled by veteran long-distance runner Roy Vence, Antipolo came out prepared and more fit for the rigorous 207-kilometer ultra marathon team relay in this event organized by the Laguna Lake Conservation Society (LLCS) and Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA). Antipolo bagged the P350,000 grand prize with a total time of seven hours, 25 minutes and 45 seconds while the Airmen, despite the courageous bid of the country’s top long-distance runner, settled for the runner-up pot of P200,000 after logging 7:41.59. Army Team A (7:58.31) took third place worth P100,000, while its Team B (8:01.57) placed fourth and garnered P75,000. "Our three-month preparation paid off," said an elated Vence, a five-time Milo marathon men’s champion, after his charges were able to sustain their lead.

Antipolo had the event virtually wrapped up in yesterday’s sixth stage – a 27.1K run from the Laguna provincial capitol of Sta. Cruz to the neighboring town of Mabitac – when Airforce’s opening runner, Julius Sermona, who got dehydrated the previous day, struggled into fourth place. Buenavista was forced to race Stage 8 in compliance to the rules that required runners to race in the same order as the previous day. He was eight minutes behind Antipolo frontrunner Mendel Lopez, who stretched the lead further after a sharp downhill trek at the stop’s 15K mark. Luck did not sided with Airforce-Brooks during Saturday’s penultimate round as Buenavista was accidentally hit by a motorcycle driver while warming up. Buenavista suffered injuries on his wrists and legs. The Airmen also encountered heavy traffic at the South Luzon Expressway that cost them the championship. "We were also not totally prepared because my men were on duty most of the time before this race," T/Sgt. Bernard Ebuen said. "We didn’t have much time to train. If we had the time, the outcome may have been different" LLDA general manager Edgardo Manda said first ultra marathon was staged not just to pit skills, but also to raise public awareness on Laguna Lake. - JVP/RCJ, GMANews.TV