Doctors Raymund Reel Bontol and Humility Igaña topped last Sunday’s medical category in the well-attended 5th University Run at the Cebu Doctors’ University at the North Reclamation Area. Bontol, who is part of the Cebu-based Team Reborn competing in Sunday’s CamSur Ironman 70.3, and Igaña are both members of the Ungo Runners, a group of running enthusiasts that run every Friday night.

DOC MITTY. Humility Igaña won last Sunday’s medical women’s category in the 5th University Run. CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE. (PHOTO BY RAMIE IGAÑA)

Bontol set a new personal record in topping the 10K Medical Men’s category, finishing the race in 42:38. At 2nd place was Dr. Harem Dieparine with a time of 45:30 while Dr. Mark Anthony Longinas finished 3rd with a time of 49:43. Rounding up the top 10 are: 4th Jo Banjo (50:47); 5th Renald Ramiro (58:24); 6th Ryan Jubal (1:02:33); 7th Andrei Yu (1:02:22); 8th Questor Nodalo (1:05:04); 9th Philip Larrazabal (1:06:21); and 10th Paul Go (1:11:17).

Igaña, meanwhile, topped the field of women doctors by finishing her 10K race in 1:01:31. Roslyn Yu was 2nd with a time of 1:02:23; Loy Tan was 3rd with a time of 1:06:20, Catherine Ti was 4th with a time of 1:07:27, while Ma. Victoria Larrazabal was 5th with a time of 1:13:10.

The Men’s 10K was dominated, as expected, by Kenyan Simon Losiaboi who breezed through the route in 32:16. He was followed by Arnold Unabia at 2nd place who finished in 33:13 and Alvirg Busa at 3rd who finished in 33:56.

In the Women’s 10K, Madelyn Carter topped the race by finishing the distance in 39:45. Jojielyn Pepito was 2nd with a time of 40:33 while Aiza Suaybaguio was 3rd with a time of 42:01. Rounding up the top 10 are 4th Lohriz Echavez (43:01); 5th Rosas Emily (49:39); 6th Melinda Ponce (50:48); 7th Angel Olis (50:56); 8th Donna Cruz (50:07); 9th Jane Ong (51:26) and 10th Florence Mata (51:29).

Veteran Reprinel Banzon, meanwhile, topped the 5K men’s category while Jolly Maxilom topped the women’s 5K. Charlie Berberio topped the 5K men employees’ category while Tessa Gabrillo topped the women employee’s category.

Lugz Lim topped the 5K alumni men while ungo runner Ryan Gonzaga was 2nd with a time of 21:01. Jane Sia topped the 5K alumni women.

The Ungo Runners, meanwhile was named the winner of the first inter-running club dance competition. The Ungo Runners bested the Run Belly Run group of running and belly-dancing enthusiasts.

According to many runners who talked to CebuRunning, the 5th University Run was a well-organized fun Sunday race that attracted more than 3,500 runners, which is a lot more than those who joined the wrongly-named Philippine International “Marathon” held simultaneously with it. The only major complaint was the crowding by student walkers of the closed road.

Organizer Dr. Yong Larrazabal has apologized for it and said many of the walkers and students ignored their designated lanes, blocking the way of runners out to set personal bests. Yong said that after the race, he immediately consulted with race director Joel Baring and they decided that in the next race, they would designate a different route for walkers and students.

Yong also said that they encountered problems with water because the 5-gallon bottles delivered to the site were fully frozen instead of just half frozen. Because of that, they encountered distributing water in water stations. But the Gatorade station was able to serve cold energy drinks to all the runners event until the close of the race.