Salano tops Run United 1 2014’s 21k event

In a rare occasion since the Kenyan influx into the local running scene, Filipinos won the Enervon Activ 21k event, the premiere race in the Run United 1 2014, which started and ended at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Sunday.

Richard Salano, a UAAP athletics MVP from the University of the East, crossed the finish line with a time of one hour, 16 minutes and 52 seconds to rule the men's event, while Monica Torres (1:28:20), known for her skills as a triathlete, bagged the women's title.

"Masaya dahil hindi naman nangyayari araw-araw na tinatalo namin ang mga Kenyans," said Torres. "May kasama na rin sigurong suwerte."

Torres relegated Kenyan runner Irene Kipchumba (1:36:50) to second place while Kristy Abello (1:47:08) completed the top three finishers.

Salano shared the limelight with second-placer Benjamin Rana Jr (1:22:09), who runs for Unilab Active Health triathlon team, and British national Andy Pope (1:23:33), who was surprised to post a podium finish.

"This is my first podium finish in the 21K. My first podium finish was in a 5k event. I am very surprise that I made it to the top three," said the Taguig City-based Pope, who has lived in the country for decades and manages two diving shops in Bohol and Puerto Galera.

The Kenyans, however, scored a 1-2 finish in the men's 10k race with Elphiz Kiptaruz posting a 29-minute and 36-second clocking to capture the top spot, while his compatriot John Chebil (31:43) salvaged a second place finish. Filipino runner Greg Vincent Osorio (32:42) was a far third placer.

In the women’s side, Cinderella Lorenzo (38:21) won the crown while Michelle Gilbuena (41:22) and Ma. Claire Adorna (44:24) rounded out the top three finishers.

Veteran runner Rafael Poliquit (14:56) pocketed the 5k title, even as Christopher Ulbot Jr (15:07) and Ferdinand Corpuz (15:12) shared the podium with their respective second and third place finishes.

For the 5k women's race, another veteran, Janette Lumidao (18:27) won the event with Jennysmyll Mabunga (19:02) and Michelle De Vera (20:14) earning the right to share the podium as they posted second and third place finishes, respectively.

More than 12,000 runners converged Sunday at the Mall of Asia for the first event of the multi-division, three-race series, which will hold its second leg, Run United 2, on June 1 at the same venue. This will be followed by the Run United Philippine Marathon on October 5, which will start at the Bonifacio Global City and end at the SM Mall of Asia.

Runners were also treated to a mini-concert by Parokya ni Edgar after the awarding ceremonies.

Organizers were also glad to announce that more women are participating not only in the 5k and 10k fun runs but also in the 21k events.

According to coach Rio dela Cruz of Run Rio, Inc., the company which organizes the races, there is now a 70-30 ratio of men and women participants. This will explain, Dela Cruz said in a press release circulated by the organizers during the awarding ceremonies, why the 21k slots were immediately filled during two days after the registration was open to the public.

“Two days after the start of registration, the 21k race slots were all taken already. And two weeks before the race date, registration for 10K slots was also closed. While there is clamor for more slots, we always stick to our target number of participants to ensure a better quality and safer race,” said dela Cruz in the release.

Unilab Active Health (ULAH), the co-organizer of Run Rio, Inc., also attributed the rise in women participation to its healthy lifestyle advocacy and through the works done by ULAH’s running ambassadress Jaymie ‘The Bull Runner’ Pizarro.

“In 2012, I partnered with ULAH for the TBR Marathon, which made it even more successful. In fact, in our latest marathon in February 16, more than half of the 900 slots were taken within 30 minutes after we announced the start of registration online. It has been five great years of running. Together with ULAH, we make the running community grow and become better,” said Pizarro in the same release.

ULAH also supports triathlons and duathlons in partnership with Bike King. Tri United 1 2014 was successfully held last March 9 in Subic, Olongapo.

Run United also helps in the Gawad Kalusugan advocacy of Gawad Kalinga through medical outreach projects and training of barangay health workers. A portion of the registration fee in the Run United go to the Gawad Kalusugan program. - AMD, GMA News