Janitor, ultra runner sweep race titles
Former Palaro mid-distance runner who works as janitor in CNU wins 11th University Run
FORMER Palarong Pambansa bronze medalist Azlan Pagay and ultra marathoner Preciosa Sanchez ruled the 11th edition of the University Run, winning the men’s and women’s 25K titles, respectively, at the Cebu Doctors’ University (CDU) campus in Mandaue City yesterday.
Pagay won in 1 hour, 45 minutes and 29 seconds, more than four minutes ahead of closest pursuer professional boxer Ian Refuela (1:49:45). Edilberto Datincila got third place in 1:54:05.
The 22-year-old Pagay, who hails from Davao, dominated the race right from the get-go.
“It’s my first time to join, and I’m happy to win. It was really painful, especially in the second bridge. I was not able to train this week for the race because I’m working as a room cleaner/ janitor at Cebu Normal University,” Pagay said in Cebuano.
Pagay, a bronze medalist in the 1,500-meter event in the 2012 Palarong Pambansa, has been joining weekend fun runs in Cebu for three years now. He was a former middle distance runner for Crossing Bayabas National High School in Davao Del Sur.
Ultra marathoner Preciosa Sanchez crossed the finish line in 2:15:08 to win the women’s 25K. Rexel May Dalinog placed second in 2:38:20 and Mae Cherryl Wuttke was third in 2:49:46.
Sanchez, 47, the reigning champion in the 72K Cebu City 360° Ultramarathon, said that it was part of her routine to do a long road run on Sundays. Sanchez, who works as a process technician at Fairchild, also dominated the race as she was leading from the start until finish.
“This is my second University Run. I’ve been running for seven years and it has become my outlet to relieve pressure and stress,” she said.
In the 13K category, Rendell Corro and Karla Cosep won the men’s and women’s divi- sions, respectively. Corro timed 55.27 to beat Ray Rolly Omnus (57:17) and Carlos Bayno (58:35). Cosep beat Virgita Soco (1:11:33) and Sweet Pinafil (1:20:50).
Andrew Sacris won the men’s 6K, while Kimi Wee topped the women’s side. Sacris clocked 24:53 and was followed by Peter Hicban (25:52) and Mulford Samper (25:53). Wee won in 29.17 over Tiffany Ponce came (32:03) and Monica Nielo (35:45).
In the men’s and women’s 3K, Japeth Iway and Melinda Villar won in 12:56 and 14:41, respectively. Ryan Villareal (12:57) and Marc Louise Camacho (13:07) got the next two places in the men’s divison, while Johanna Camalija (16:30) and Nicole Cabahug (17:00) fin- ished second and third, respectively, in th women’s division.
The other winners were Cons Veloso (2:11:12) and Checky Young (3:36:34) in the men’s and women’s alumni 25K; Tarife Rolen (57.22) and Abegail Alde (1:30.28) in the men’s and women’s alumni 13K; and Cas Alzate (1:18:15) and Jennifer Tapales (1:25:57) in the 13K students.