Wilfredo Gelladula tries to score
back-to-back wins while last year’s runner-up Evert Miranda
leads a host of challengers looking to steal the limelight
when the 31st National Milo Marathon returns to Iloilo City on
Sunday.
In a tightly-contested 21-kilometer race
last year, Gelladula made his move with just one kilometer to
go, beating Miranda by 12 seconds. They are expected to engage
in another exciting battle while trying to ward off other
competitors.
The top three finishers in both the men’s
and women’s 21K races advance to the Milo Marathon grand
finals set Nov. 18 in Manila.
Local organizers are expecting to surpass
last year’s entry list of 6,600 in the 21K elimination race,
5K fun run and the kiddies 3K event. At stake is a total pot
of P159,600 as well as trophies and medals.
Also on tap for Sunday’s event being held
in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel-Manila, Adidas, Cebu
Pacific and Department of Tourism is the cheer-dance
competition that has become one of the major attractions of
the weekly event.
Event coordinator Rommel Castro of the
organizing Youth and Development division of the office of the
City Mayor has invited Councilor Joe Espinosa III, chairman of
Iloilo City Sports Council to fire the starting gun at exactly
6 a.m. Congressman Raul Gonzalez, Jr., who ran the 5k last
year, will see action anew.
Milo AVP for Sports Pat Goc-ong is advising all runners to
be at the starting area one hour before the race for check-in
and final briefing.
