The mighty Cebuanos delivered a strong message and conquered the sea of runners in bright and familiar green in the 45th Milo Marathon Manila Leg on Sunday morning, April 28, at the SM MOA Complex. 

With the longest-running event in the Philippines returning to its throng of the usual number of 20,000 participants post-pandemic, it was 33-year-old Florendo Lapiz for the male category and 35-year-old Lizane Abella in the female class who stamped their class in the enduring 42-kilometer footrace.

Navigating the unfamiliar territory of Manila through the scorching heat, Lapiz covered the full distance in two hours, 42 minutes and 33 seconds, which was not even his best time at the distance, but catapulted him to the top of the elite race category. 

The new Milo Marathon winner and National Finals-bound Lapiz bested his closest rival Salvador Polillo (2:49:54) by seven minutes and 21 seconds, with Welfred Esporma completing the podium also in a sub-3 performance of 2:58:51. 

Lapiz, whose body is used to the cooler temperature of his hometown in Carcar, was determined to make every penny of his travel expense count in each stride to the line. 

“Okay naman at maganda ‘yung ruta. ‘Yung hydration stations din [nakatulong]. Pero buti na lang nakasabay ko 'yung marshall. Nawawala ako pabalik kasi hindi ko kabisado ‘yung Manila kasi taga Cebu ako. Sa awa ng Panginoon natapos ko kahit mainit na panahon ‘yung tinakbo namin,” Lapiz said post-marathon. 

According to RUNRIO Inc. Founder and CEO Rio Dela Cruz, gun starts for all categories have been adjusted to an earlier time to have participants sail across on slightly cooler temperatures. 

“Ginawa nating mas maaga ‘yung gun start because of the [hot] temperature. But we had eight hydration stations along the route [to help our runners],” said Dela Cruz. 

“For our winners, this is their first time to win the Milo Marathon which makes them qualified for our National Finals in Cagayan De Oro (CDO).” 

Mother of three children, Abella of Minglannila, in her third try, finally took the checkered flag after finishing only in third place twice prior to the sweet victory. 

The full-time runner dominated the female side in three hours, 21 minutes and five seconds, which was nine minutes slower than her personal record. 

Even then, Abella endured a tight competition from second-place Maricar Camacho (3:26:19) and Jewel De Luna (3:27:05), who crossed the line within 46 seconds of each other to round out the all-women podium. 

“Nag-maintain lang ako ng pace ko [all throughout] para matapos ko ‘yung race. Bawat station [mahalaga sa akin] para hydrated ‘yung katawan ko,” said Abella. 

The beverage giant-sponsored running event set the National Finals on December 1.