TRAIL RUN Zafico, Batac win Salomon X-Trail Run
Cebu’s elite runner Paul James Zafico snagged the men’s 21-kilometer title after conquering the challenging terrain of the Salomon X-Trail Run Pilipinas 2017 in Cansomoroy, Balamban, Cebu yesterday.
Zafico, a call center agent, breasted the tape in 2 hours, 41 minutes, and 12 seconds to win the first Salomon X-Trail Run in Cebu. John Anil Mercado clocked 2:59:36 to take second place, while Merson Gasang timed 3:13:52 to nab third place.
“Coming to the race, I wanted to win and to get a good time. It was a nice race, the route was very nice. For me, the route here was at medium difficulty level,” said Zafico, a constant top finisher in local road races.
Zafico, who comes from Cagayan de Oro City, is preparing for the 41st Milo Marathon National Finals in December after he qualified with a fourth place finish in the Manila qualifiers last July.
“My training always focuses on road runs, but the trail run is really exciting for us runners because it gives us a different experience from the usual road runs,” he said.
Ultra marathoner Daisy Batac, meanwhile, bagged the women’s 21K title one week after joining a daunting 60K ultramarathon in the Fat Ass Trail Run.
“Never expected to win this race, I think my last race has helped me with my endurance,” said Batac, 36, after winning the women’s title with a time of 3:52:04.
Manilyn Mamugay finished second in 3:53:03 and Michelle Beck bagged third place in 4:23:09.
The Salomon X-Trail Run was one of the sporting activities as AboitizLand launched Foressa Trails, a new mountain adventure park, which caters outdoor activities to public like hiking, biking, camping, among others.
In the 11K race, Manuel Cario (1:32:19) topped the men’s division, beating Steve Jao (1:36:25) and Jonathan Diaz (1:37:11), who settled for second and third places, respectively.
Triathlete Amale Jopson (1:42:53) won the women’s division, followed by Gesille Mulder (1:45:01) and Emily Marie Antipala (1:48:54).
With the success of the sporting event, Eduardo Aboitiz said that Foressa Trails is open in hosting again a sporting event.
“Definitely, we have potential, in Foressa Trails. There was (a great) turn out today. The place can host other races in the future,” he said. “Everything was successful, and everyone looked like they were having fun.”
Aside from the fun run, the Motor Ace Philippines also hosted a MTB Trail Ride, a fun ride covering the 17K MTB course, which is designed on the standards of International Mountainbike Association.
The Salomon X-Trail Run was joined by around 300 runners, while the MTB Motorace Trail Ride had more than 100 participants. The two sporting events were part of the opening of Foressa Trails.