Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Phoenix runners win in CamSur International Marathon


MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 28, 2011) - Five out of seven Team Phoenix elite runners topped the Summit CamSur International Marathon: Race to a Green Philippines held over the weekend at the CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) in the town of Pili in Camarines Sur province.

Davao’s Brian Lupio emerged champion in the men’s 21k Local race with an official time of 1:15:54, only eight seconds earlier than second placer Gerald Sabal (1:16:01) of Manila. Lupio brought home a cash prize of P20,000.

Team Phoenix’s Monalisa Ambasa of Davao and Cebu’s Mendel Lopez placed second in the female and male categories of the marathon’s 42k Local leg. They each received P95,000 in cash.

Ambasa, winner of the 2011 Cebu City Marathon, finished the race in 3:15:17 after first placer Mary Grace delos Santos (2:59:53), while Cebu top runner Lopez clocked two hours, 34 minutes and eleven seconds following Eric Panique (2:28:03) who took the top spot.

Phoenix runner Cynthia Jaro bagged P50,000 after finishing third in the women’s 42k Open race with a time of 3:20:17. Rose Chesire of Kenya (2:50:26) and Filipina Ailene Tolentino (3:12:29) took the first and second spots.

Cebuana Mary Joy Tabal took one hour, 24 minutes and 31 seconds to place second in the women’s 21k Open category. She edged out Rhoda Chepkirui (1:25:10) of Kenya who placed third, but was behind Ethiopian Genet Agtew (1:22:22) who took the win. Tabal received a prize of P30,000.

Tabal shares she owes her win to her personal coach and trainer John Philip Duenas, also a Phoenix runner, who sacrificed his run to pace her.

Another Phoenix runner Anthony Nerza of Davao did not make it in the top three of the 42k Local category after finishing fifth. Nerza, however, was included in the 42k’s Magical 6.

Team Phoenix was composed of the top Filipino finishers of the Araw ng Dabaw Phoenix Run last March 13 in the 21K category. They are among the best runners in Davao and Cebu, topping other races as well.

The CamSur International Marathon is the only marathon in the Philippines certified by both the Association of International Marathon and Distance Races (AIMS), and the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF). It will also serve as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon on April 12 next year.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines’ exclusive sponsorship to the runners is part of Phoenix’s advocacy to promote sports. Phoenix is a partner of the PBA and recently concluded its first “Trip Ko Phoenix Fuels Basketball Cup” for under-16 players. Phoenix also holds the Phoenix Run Series, which has been to Davao City, Compostela Valley, and Tagum City and joined by thousands of runners.

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