More than 500 runners participated in the Abanse Negrense Road Races, featuring a half marathon 21-kilometer distance that traversed the major thoroughfares of the cities of Bacolod and Talisay in Negros Occidental Sunday.
The starting area and finish line were at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol grounds.
Provincial Sports Office head Anthony Carlo Agustin led the road races’ gun start on behalf of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
There were 537 total registrants in five different categories including 5K (12 years old and below Boys and Girls), 5K (13-15 years old Boys and Girls), 10K (15-49 years old Men and Women), 10K (50 and above Men and Women), and 21K (Open Category – Men and Women).
In the 21-kilometer race, Maclin Sadia of the Adizero Training Team topped the Men’s category at 1 hour 18 minutes and 26 seconds. Jeson Agravante of Bacolod Road Stallion followed Sadia at second place at 1:18.40, and Argie Baynes rounded off the top three finishers at 1:20.29.
As for the 21K Women’s category, Silay City’s Jennylyn Nobleza was the fastest to cross the finish line, clocking at 1:35.40. Stephanie Cadosale of Escalante City trailed Nobleza in second place at 1:37.24, and Myrel Benignos of Sipalay City came in third at 1:42.51.
In the 10K (15-49 years old) Men’s race, Rogen Aguirre of Bago City ranked first at 35:25 while Emmanuel Jose Jaype (Bago City) settled for second place at 36:47 followed by Randolf Magbanua (Adizero Training Team) at third place with the time of 36:52.
For the 10K (15-49 years old) Women’s category, Anne Magdalene Tubal of Pulupandan landed in first place with 48:00 official time. The second place went to Angelica Bacaro of Talisay City at 49:15 and Mary Joy Barcoma of Sipalay City with the time of 50:25.
In the 10K (50 years old and above) Men’s division, the top three finishers were Rogelio Zaragoza Jr. (46:08), Jabs Alvarez (46:10), and Mario Chavez (47:15). The 10K (50 years old and above) Women’s division winners were Helen Inson of Bacolod Road Stallion (59:39), Margie Tagle of Fun Runners Pontevedra (1:02.28), and Jun Ann Domingo of Bacolod City (1:02.58).
Furthermore, the top three runners in the 5K (12 years old and below) Boys’ category were Roy Andrie Guinsatao (24:20), Joven Melleza (24:32), and Jay Ferrer (24:34). All of the winning runners were part of the Pulupandan Team.
For the 5K (12 years old and below) Girls’ division, Jeliah Rose Barbadillo of Calatrava got the first place title with a time of 24:46. Trailing behind Barbadillo was Aisha May Palmares of Manapla at 25:19, and Audrey Coleen Matarong of Talisay City ranked third with the time of 25:55.
In the 5K (13-15 years old) Boys’ category, Victorias City’s Cejay Murillo landed in first place clocking at 19:43. Adrian Titong of Sipalay City was the second placer at 20:06, and Pulupandan’s John Errol Vaay was in third place at 20:39.
Lastly, Mitche Benignos of Sipalay City topped the 5K (13-15 years old) Girls’ division with a time of 21:48. Bago City’s Bea Bico followed her at 22:21, and Mariel Nobles of Victorias City took home the third prize after clocking at 22:28.
All the winning runners received cash prizes and medals, while the first 100 runners received complimentary t-shirts from the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental through its Provincial Sports Office.*
