Sports: Agravante, Nobleza to defend 10Km title in Panaad Race today

Defending champions Jason Agravante and Jennlyn Nobleza, both of Silay City is set to defend their men and women titles in the 10Km Open road race today as the penultimate part of athletics event of 19th Panaad sa Negros Festival at Panaad Park and Sports Stadium.

The two are season runners who dominate almost all the road races in the province, will defend their titles against the young aspiring runners who are Palarong Pambansa-bound runners and part of the Western Visayas contingent.

Agravante who won the men’s title last year clocked 41:06.69 seconds and will be challenged by Escalante City’s Joel Alcorin who finish second last year (41:45.86); the Hulleza twins of Cadiz City; Ruel (42:01.00) and Rommel (42:02.75) and aspiring Palaro-bound Jun Motalbo of Bago City who specializes in 5,000; 1,500 meter run and 3, 000 steeplechase, who placed fifth last year.

In the women’s side, Nobleza who clocked 51:12.21 seconds last year will be challenged by last year’s 1st runner-up Stephanie Cadosale (53:30.60) of Escalante City; Jelyn Duran who placed third last year (54:54.04) who is now running for Escalante City and Phoebe Lava of Manapla, (55:47.48) one of the Lava family of runners who are participating today; and Rica Mae De La Cruz (56:27.98) of Victorias City.

Duran, recently ruled the 5Km road race and went home with the top prize of P1, 500.

There are 208 runners that already registered for the men’s division, while 74 are in the women’s side. However, organizer said that are still accepting registration at the site in Murcia before the start of the race.

The Lava family from the town of Manapla will try to make a decent placing in this race. It is composed of father and mother including four of their children to answer the starting gun up to the finish.

Up for grabs in the race are cash prizes and trophy for the winners. The champion will received P5, 000; P3, 000 for 1st runner-up; P2, 000 for 2nd runner-up; P1, 000 for 3rd runner-up and P500 for 4th runner-up.

The youngest and the oldest participants in the 10km open category will get P1, 000 each as special prize.* (CMG)