BACOLODNON runners Romulo Balinas and Jennelyn Nobleza topped the men’s 21 kilometer race of the 9th Iloilo Dinagyang Half Marathon on Sunday at the SM City Iloilo in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
Balinas, a Bacolod City native, reclaimed the Dinagyang men’s 21k crown for the first time since 2014 by submitting a time of one hour, 14 minutes and two seconds. Finishing behind were Roger Molinos (1:20:33) and Bennie Murillo (1:23:31).
Nobleza, on the other hand, has repeated as champion in the distaff side with a time of one hour, 40 minutes and 49 seconds. Placing second and third were Abegail Odelmo (1:48:18) and Lorena Demontano (1:55:19).
For ruling the 21 kilometer race, Balinas and Nobleza bagged the top prize of P5,000.00, while the second and third placers settled for P3,000.00 and P2,000.00, respectively.
Ilonggos Alfrenz Braza and Marjorie Pasea were able to capture the men’s and women’s title in the five kilometer race, which is for the benefit of the city’s cervical cancer free program.
Braza topped the men’s 5k race with a time of 17 minutes and 34 seconds, beating Justin Sona (18:03) and Roger Aguirre (18:04). Pasea, meanwhile, finished the women’s race at 24 minutes and 15 seconds edging Shiela Magsico (26:11) and Angel Gonzaga (26:49).
The one-day running event was one of the sporting events prepared by the Iloilo City government as part of the annual Dinagyang Festival, which is celebrated every third week of January./PN
