Baguio City’s Eli Dangadang (Photo cortesy of Bontoc LGU Facebook)
BONTOC – Baguio City’s Eli Dangadang bested all female entries of the tough 76.89-kilometer Long Trail race of the Southeast Asian Trail Running Cup here on Sunday.
Dangadang clocked 13 hours, 38 minutes and 51 seconds in the race that started and ended at Bontoc provincial plaza. Participants negotiated scenic Mountain Province trails that included the Bontoc Viewpoint, Mt. Fato and Guina-ang Rice Terraces.
Angelie Cabalo (14:58:28) of South Cotabato was the only other female participant who made the 15-hour cutoff.
"Ang goal ko lang is to finish the race talaga (My only goal is just to finish the race)," Dangadang said, adding that she was surprised every time marshals told her she was leading.
She tried to go sub-13 but the weather affected her performance.
"’Yung init kasi (It's because of the hot weather), but I did my best," Dangadang said.
Emotions flowed when Cabalo made the finish line barely a minute and a half before the allowed time.
"I know that she can do it, at saka nag-train kami (and we trained) for this. So I know that she's very persistent," Dangadang said. "I'm super proud because we're really pushing each other to be greater runners."
The overall long trail race was won by the Thai Jantaraboon Kiangchaipaiphana, who clocked 11:04:08.
The Philippines made it 2-3 with Larry Apolinario (11:37:25) of Antique and Arnie Macaneras (11:49:10) of Davao City.
Short trail grand slam
While Kiangchaipaiphana spoiled the host nation's party in the long trail race, there was no stopping the Filipinos from dominating the short trail race.
John Ray Onifa led the way for the Philippines' podium grand slam by taking the gold after finishing the 37-kilometer race course in 4:46:26.
Romnick Tongkaling beat Godwin Mirar for the silver as the former clocked 4:55:35, just 16 seconds ahead of the latter.
Trisha Reyes won the women's side in 6:58:41.
Veteran Christabel Martes took the silver in 7:02:10 while another Thai, Yupa Saelee, bagged bronze in 7:16:31.
Following the success of the three-day event that began on Friday with the vertical uphill race, Philippine Trail Running Association (PhilTRA) vice president Tin Ferrera hopes that it could spark more international trail running races to take place in the Philippines.
"We'd like to show to the world that there are events in the Philippines that are worth going to, so we'd like to reach that point. That's why we're really trying hard to give a good experience to the athletes participating, not just the foreign delegates but also the locals," Ferrera said.
Founded in 2021, PhilTRA is an affiliate of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, the national sports association. (PNA)
