Running: UST trackster wins Run United 1

Even Gregg Vincent Osorio of the University of Santo Tomas track and field team was surprised when he breached the finish line by his lonesome, winning Sunday's elite 21km men's race of Run United 1, which started and ended at the Mall of Asia in Pasay. "Parang ensayo lang," was how the 20-year-old Osorio described his victory, which he notched in one hour, 14 minutes and 13 seconds.   "Nasa unahan ako all the way and after nakalayo ako sa mga kalaban, nakapag-relax pa nga ako," added Osorio, a middle distance specialist from UST, who hopes to win the 10k category in the UAAP next season. "Kung may kalaban, siguro mas nagandahan ko ang oras," added Osorio, an education student, majoring in library science, after posting his personal best in a 21km run. Orosio, who graduated from Western Aklan Academy and represented the province in the Philippine National Games, revealed that he will be using the P8,500 cash prize he pocketed to buy tickets for a much-anticipated vacation back in Aklan this summer. "May pambili na ng ticket," the 20-year-old runner said with a beaming smile. "At siyempre pasalubong." Playing second fiddle to Osorio was Isidro Vildosola (1:25:25) who was more than 10 minutes behind the winner. Vildosola salvaged the second-place spot by winning the sprint against Romeo Marquez (1:25:26). Vildosola bagged the P7,500 second place cash prize while Marquez went home with a third-place cash prize worth P6,500 In the women's 21km, veteran campaigners Janette Lumidao (1:28:21) likewise reached the finish line unmolested, posting a 36-second advantage over second-placer Nhea Ann Barcena (1:28:57). Salvaging a third-place finish was Kristina Beckendorf (1:35:40) of Germany. Lumidao brought home the P8,500 top cash prize, while Barcena and Beckendorf pocketed the second and third-place cash prizes worth P7,500 and P6,500, respectively. It was a Kenyan show in the 10km men's race with Benjamin Benjamin Kipkazi  winning the event in 31 minutes and 57 seconds. He was followed at the finish line by compatriot Jackson Chirchir (33:18), while Filipino runner Frank Indapan (35:15) posted a third-place finish. In the women's 10km event, Mischelle Gilbuena (43:15), Kim Magrobang (44:13) and Jolly Ann Ballester (48:39) completed the top-three spots. The winners in both 10km categories won cash prizes worth P6,000, the second-placer 5,000 and the third-place finisher P4,000. In the 5K event, Rechard Salano (15:10), Rafael Poliquit (15:16), and Albert Valencia (15:57) booked the top three spots in the men's division, while Miz de Vera (19:41), Michelle Ann Tribagacay (20:17) and Echauz Magali  (24:48) shared the limelight in the women's event, as they completed the top-three spots. According to organizers, a total of 12,169 participated in the event's four categories. There were 5,000 runners in the 21km race, 4,000 in the 10km and 3,000 in the 5km, while 169 runners competed in the 500m sprint event. Organizers added that there was no 3km event because the slots allocated for the event were re-allocated to longer distance events. “We have more progressive runners now, those who run to improve their personal records and get into longer-distance races. Run United 1 is their warm-up for a year of running so the race distances and schedules are plotted to allow runners to improve their running skills the right way,” Alex Panlilio, Head of United Laboratories Active Health, explained in a statement released on Sunday. This is the reason why the Run United 2 on June 2 will be held in 10km, 21km, and 32km distance categories, while Run United Philippine Marathon on October 6 will see 10km, 21km and 42km distance categories. Both runs will still have the 500m dash for children. Panlilio said that longer distances fill up faster during registration, with the 21km category of the Run United 1 closed a month prior to the race. Organizer Rio dela Cruz of Run Rio said that “The trend is in line with our goal to be part of the growth of runners—in terms of performance and the development of running as a key sports activity in the country. We expect more runners to sign up for our marathon in the last quarter of the year.” After the Run United 2013 series, ULAH will be forging ahead with the Tri United 2 2013 on July 7, 2013, Tri United 3 2013 on October 26, 2013 in Laiya, Batangas and Tri United 4 on November 24, 2013. - RAF/AMD, GMA News