Kenyans dominate Rexona run

Kenyan runners dominated the men’s category but local runners proved their mettle in women’s competition of the 2011 Rexona Adventure Run on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay. It was another 1-2 finish by Benjamin Kipkasi and James Tallam in the 21-kilometer race while another Kenyan Douglas Muiti finished third. Kipkasi submitted a time of one hour, 10 minutes and 55 seconds as he beat Tallam by a second for the top spot as the two duplicated their Globe Run for Home finish last March. Muiti came in third with 1:13:14. “I’m very happy to win another race here in the Philippines," said Kipkasi. “Running provides me not just with a livelihood but a chance to win experience different cultures in the world." In the distaff side, Nhea Ann Barcena (1:32:05) and Luisa Raterta (1:33:52) were just too strong for Kenyan Peris Poywo (1:34:08) who was relegated to third. All the top three finishers in the 21K respectively received prices worth P10,000, P7,000 and P5,000. It was also a Kenyan show in the men’s 10K with Eliud Kering winning with a clocking of 32:45 and Stanley Ting (33:31) bagging the third honor. Filipino Alquin Bolivar salvaged a second spot finish with 33:30. According to organizers, more than 10,000 runners participated in the event which have the Field of Dreams in Smokey Mountain and Gawad Kalinga as beneficiaries. -- Perry Legaspi/OMG, GMA News