Bolivar, a criminology student of La Salle-Dasmariñas in Cavite, posted an impressive time of one hour, 13 minutes and 42 seconds to claim his first Milo Marathon leg title.

"Last year pa dapat ako tumakbo ng 21K pero naubusan ako ng slot," said the 20-year-old Bolivar, who topped the 5K race in Lipa City last year. "Paghahandaan ko naman ngayon ang 42K."

Bolivar and the rest of the top three finishers in the men’s and women’s divisions also earned berths for the 42K national finals in Metro Manila on Dec. 10.

Placing second and third behind Bolivar were Ben Alejandrino (1:15:54) and Ereneo Raquimpo (1:17:55).

Yambao also humbled her rivals in the distaff side by clocking 1:34:10.

"Sa Manila (qualifying race) uli sana ako tatakbo ngayon kaya lang kailangan ko ng panggastos dahil graduating po ako ngayon," said Yambao, a graduating commerce student of University of Santo Tomas.

The 42K elimination race in Metro Manila on July 16 offers a bigger purse of R30,000 to the champion. The 42K national finals, also held in Manila, has a cash purse of R75,000 to the champion.

Bolivar and Yambao pocketed R10,000 each.

Mila Paje finished a far second while Corazon Salcedo, an education student of La Salle-Dasma who also needed to win to pay for her tuition fees, wound up third.

The top three finishers in the 5K race were Jerome Beredo (16:51), Jessie Mancera (17:13) and Argel delos Santos (17:30) in the men’s and Bernadette Mag-aso (18:58), Jove-an Barcena (22:26) and Lyrio Gregana (22:34) in the women’s side.