Mar
The Philippine Trail Running Championships, the national competition for trail running sanctioned by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, has wrapped up its 2023 series in a stunning display of athleticism and sportsmanship in the beautiful yet challenging mountains in Bontoc, Mountain Province.
Held from February 25-26 in the beautiful Cordillera mountain ranges in Bontoc, Mountain Province, the Philippine Trail Running Championships brought together twenty-three (23) elite participants from all over the country and almost two hundred (200) sports enthusiasts to compete in a variety of categories, including the full marathon, 25 km, 12 km races, and a kiddie run.
The challenging altitude and terrain, and the cold weather conditions, made for an exciting and grueling competition, with athletes pushing themselves to their limits to cross the finish line and be part of the National Developmental Team of Philtra, from where the representatives to the World Mountain Trail Running Championships in Austria in June 2023 will be chosen. The competition was fierce, but ultimately, Larry Apolinario from Antique emerged as the men’s marathon champion, tying him in points with Arnie Macaneras from Davao. Rizal’s Jayson Zonio completed the podium and maintained his top 3 rank for the series.
Elizabeth Dagandang from Baguio claimed the women’s title and kept her rank ahead of competitors Agustoralin Sabanal-Marte of Caloocan City and Cecille Wael from Leyte.
In the short distance category, Randolf Gonzales from Rizal emerged as the champion, maintaining his lead in the series. Seventeen-year-old Romnick Tongkaling finished second, securing his top 3 rank for the series. Bukidnon’s Godwin Mirar completed the podium. Gretchen Felipe from Benguet emerged as the champion in the female category, followed by Angeli Cabalo from South Cotobato and Christabel Martes from Baguio City. This gives Cabalo an edge over the two Cordillerans in the final ranking, with Felipe and Martes tied in points at second.
The event also featured a 12k event dominated by Vinson Ramos from Baguio, followed by locals from the Mountain Province – Crispin Feryangan and Sephonneh Anengyao. Philtra volunteer Cristelle Corpuz finished ahead of Jennifer Estacio and Judith Andres, both from the Cordillera.
Official results are available at Race Ya! Click here https://time.raceya.fit/leaderboard/bontocmountainrun2023/42k-elite
The Kiddie Run where 10 year old Kyser from Safanga (in the middle) won the race. She was wearing slippers. She is flanked in the photo by the female elite trail runners and Tin Ferrera of Philtra.
“We are thrilled with the success of this year’s Philippine Trail Running Championships,” said Tin Ferrera, Vice President of the Philippine Trail Running Association. “The athletes showed incredible determination and perseverance, and we are proud of all the participants who took part in this year’s event. It is also a great opportunity to discover new talents, especially among the local athletes who joined the 12k and kiddie run categories – the future of the sports.”
In addition to the competition, there were a variety of events and activities for attendees to enjoy, including local food and cultural performances. The trip to Bontoc also allowed each participant to enjoy the cold weather with the warm welcome of the town.
The success of the event would not have been possible without the support of the provincial government of the Mountain Province, Municipality of Bontoc, and the office of the house representative of the lone district of Mt. Province.
We are grateful to our partners and supporters, including T8 and the Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation. We are also grateful to the Philtra Core Team, Tawid Multisports Group, Team Race Ya, Team Adrenaline, and Team Ahon for their generous provision of their time and services to stage the national championships. This event would not be possible if not for our race crew Marshalls, medical team, and various stakeholders.
THE PHILTRA OFFICERS
Media Contact:
Tin Ferrera
Tinferrera@raceyaya.com
