CRESENCIANO SABAL has long been an ardent admirer of two-time Olympian Eduardo Buenavista. So eager was Sabal to follow the foosteps of his idol that he tried to upstage Buenavista in several running events.
He failed many times but not yesterday.
Exploiting Buenavista’s lack of training, Sabal, the pride and joy of Sultan Kudarat, made his move early and then weathered off his idol’s late charge to win the New Balance Power Race 2006, a feat many described as the changing of the guards in the country’s endurance running at the Bonifacio Global City.
Not only did he beat Buenavista, he also shattered the course record to make his victory doubly significant.
Buenavista, the sporting hero of Sto. Niño, South Cotabato, was never really a threat right from the start as he just came from a basic military training.
Sabal pulled away from the pack four kilometers into the 25K foot race and never looked back. He finished the race in one hour, 21 minutes and 19 seconds.
Buenavista, a member of Philippine Air Force who ruled the event the last two years, settled for second this time in 1:25:50, while Bernardo Desamito wound up third in 1:26:23.
In the Milo Marathon finals last year, Sabal also broke Buenavista’s course record. He also set the fastest time in the 2006 Pasig Heritage Marathon last February.
Also scoring an impressive win was Mercedita Manipol who dethroned Cristabel Martes in the distaff side.
Manipol, a perennial 10K winner, also took advantage of Martes’ lack of long distance training to notch her first win in the event.
Manipol’s winning time was 1:37:36 while Martes, the 2005 Milo and SEA Games marathon champ, came in second (1:43:12). Jho-An Banayag of Davao came in third at 1:43:35.
Planet Sports, The Athletes Foot, Air New Zealand, Jam 88.3, Men’s Health Magazine, Fitness First, Tokyo Tokyo, Rush, Bullfighter, Banco de Oro, Citibank, Vacation Club International, Viva Mineral Water, Powerade, Hero, Alaxan FR, and Powerbar support the New Balance Power Race 2006.
The Sabal’s 24-year-old brother, Elmer, placed third in the 10K race while his other brother, Gerald, wound up second in the 5K run.
The Tolentino sisters of Cagayan de Oro also went home big winners here yesterday as 19-year-old Aileen topped the 10K race and 22-year-old Ellen ruled the 5K run.
Capturing the men’s crown in the 10K race was former marathon king Allan Ballester with Alley Quisay finishing second.
The 10K corporate race was ruled by Advance Newtech Industrial Corporation led by Bienvenido Dalawis, Leodegario Reterta and Eddie Bansel.
The age-group winners were Marlon Bolivar (14-19), Michael Canillo (20-29), Rogelio Sarmiento (30-39), Hernandito Pineda (40-49) and Zaino Saripada (50-above) in the men’s and Faustina Dichoso (14-19), Lisa Yambao (20-29), Rizzo Regis-Tangan (30-39) and Anna Westinghouse (40-above) in the women’s.
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