Luardo siblings top Brgy Langub 5K race

RUN Out Of Poverty (Roop) runners and Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa)bound Luardo siblings, Carlo and Princess Niña, ruled the just concluded Araw ng Barangay Langub 5K Fun Run held at the Langub Elementary School.

Carlo, a 15-year-old student of Maa Elementary School, dominated the male category with his new personal record of 14 minutes and 54 seconds.

Coach Eustaquio Savellano said Carlo’s new record is 57 seconds faster than his 41st National Milo Marathon mark and just 56 seconds short of the 13:58 Philippine record.

Carlo’s sister Princes Niña, a 12-year-old Langub Elementary School athlete, for her part, clinched the female title after checking in at 23:37.

Savellano said the event served as the siblings’ preparation for the upcoming regional meet set on February.

Meantime, the siblings were first discovered by an Australian Olympian Tony Benson in 2016 when he visited the city with another coach Peter Mc Cormack.

Benson’s vision of ROOP is taking these less privileged kids away from poverty through running.

Savellano, a Triathlon Association of the Philippines (Trap) board member and representative for Mindanao, accompanied the foreigners during their stay in the city.

“But last April they went home to Australia kaya naiwan sa akin (Roop) and the two other coaches and teachers ang training nga mga bata,” Savalleno said, pertaining to Neizel Mae Luardo, Ricky Andersio and Estrelle Mejos.

He added that Benson and Mc Cormack still guide them online.

“We as coaches were mentored online and were working for our membership to the Australian Track and Field Coaches Association,” Savellano said.