TWO OF the country’s finest marathoners are set to leave on April 9 for Massachusetts in the United States to see action in the prestigious Boston Marathon.
The Boston Marathon, which attracts the Who’s Who in the lung-busting run, is slated on April 18.
This was announced yesterday by Manila Sports Council (MASCO) chief Arnold "Ali" Atienza, who fulfills his vow to send the top winners of the biggest one-time gathering of runners on Philippine soil – the 2nd Manila Marathon – to Boston and added that Allan Ballester and Roy Vence will represent Team MayniLA Philippines.
Ballester, the 30-year old pride of Sorsogon who won the gold medal in the 2003 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games, and Vence, the 38-year-old Cebuano who won the gold in the 2001 SEA Games in Malaysia, finished first and second, respectively in last year’s Manila Marathon, thus earning slots in the Boston run.
"What better exposure can we provide our top marathoners for their preparation for the coming SEA Games than in the prestigious Boston Marathon," said the son of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.
"And ranged against the world’s best long distance runners, we believe Allan and Roy would give a good account of themselves and could even improve their personal best times," Atienza added.
"Gagawin ko ang lahat para makapagbigay ng karangalan sa bayan," said Vence, who also won the silver medal in the 1997 SEA Games in Indonesia and bronze in the 1995 Thailand SEA Games.
"Una sa lahat, nagpapasalamat ako kay sir Ali (Atienza) sa suporta at binigyan ako ng pagkakataon. Gagawin ko ang lahat ng makakaya ko," said Ballester, the reigning SEA Games champion and who was partly supported by the MASCO in his preparation for the 2003 Vietnam games.
Anticipating the weather condition in Boston, Atienza said Ballester and Vence are set to leave early so they will have time to acclimatize. They will be accompanied by coach Luis Artiaga and delegation head Engr. Robert Evangelista of the Manila Mayor’s office with support from the Philippine Sports Commission.
Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) secretary general Ben Silva Netto said the event will be a good venue to test the physical condition of the RP runners in preparation for forthcoming SEA Games.
The last Filipino to run in the Boston Marathon was Jimmy dela Torre 22 years ago.
