Team Peoples Park Runners Club shines in 3rd International Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge

Team DOLEFIL wins LOGSAC Sportsmanship Award.

Davao City-based Team Peoples Park Runners Club of Davao, Inc. rules the 3^rd International Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge held in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur on April 27-28, 2013. Former marathon champs Ronald Dagaang and Mario Ecalner (with Alexander Fulgencio as their logistic crew) completed the whole race course with a total time of 12 hours, 22 minutes and 58 seconds. The team paced a new record being the fastest champion in the history of Boulder Face competition. Previous record was set by Team Bebang of Philippine Army Manila with a time of 15 hours, 38 minutes and 33 seconds.  

Dagaang, who also won the 80-kilometer TDR Ultramarathon in Davao City last March 16; and Ecalner, a security guard in one of the commercial banks in Davao City, managed to survive in a race that has been considered one of the most extreme in Asia covering four disciplines namely: mountain biking, trail running/trekking, water tubing and road running.

Race Director Engr. Albert Gabriel said the race has a total of 113.3 kilometers starting from the municipal grounds of Sta. Cruz all the way to the summit of Mt. Apo, the highest peak of the Philippines and vice versa. He further said that with the plan of the LGU to further stretch the mountain biking stage, a portion of the mountain biking had to traverse through sitios of Marawer of Barangay Kapatagan in Digos City.

Seasoned cyclist Dexter Nonato and April John Maniyog of Team Columbia/DOTA was at close second tallying a total time of 12 hours, 32 minutes and 21 seconds while early race forerunner Team Franklin Baker Company of the Philippines finished 3^rd place with a time of 12 hours, 46 minutes and 51 seconds.

This year’s competition features several changes in the route. Engr. Gabriel stressed that the mountain biking stage was extended to about 20 kilometers, making it an unpredictable race giving equal chances to both runners and cyclists. The water tubing in Sibulan river accounted for 3.5 kilometers while the open road had a total distance of 12 kilometers.

Other winners who made it to the top 10 are the following; Team HEDCOR (Elmer Bartolo, Angelito Sibayan), Team White Peak Outdoor Shop (Marcial Catanggi, Gerald Daraydo), Team PNP-DOPPO (Jonathan Pido, Juny Rex Carreon), Team Flying V Philippines (Charlito Esparar, Mark Anthony Rance), Kidapawan City’s Team PORBO (Noel Oyson, Ireezbone Barrientos), Team San Miguel Brewery, Inc. (Alex Suguilon, Edzel Sumagaysay).

Team Franklin Baker was also winner of two special awards being the fastest mountain bikers and the first team to arrive in the summit of Mt. Apo. Team Peoples Park Runners was the fastest trail runners. Team PORBO was the fastest water tubers while the fastest road runners was claimed by Team PNP-Davao Oriental Police Provincial Office.

Team DOLEFIL from Polomolok, South Cotabato was the 3^rd winner of the prestigious LOGSAC Sportsmanship Award.

The 3^rd installment of the international Boulder Face race saw 3 foreign teams competing with two casts coming from Indonesia and one from the Netherlands. Team Tricky Trails (Netherlands) was the only foreign team to make it to the finish line in barely 26 hours.

Of the 31 total participating teams, 26 finished it. Other finishers were: Davao City’s Team Base Camp, Team Bernadette from Tagum City, Team Multi-Sports Adventure from Manila, Team Tagum Runners, Digos City’s Team Four Jewels, Team Mulatto from Davao City, Bukidnon’s Team Quantum Farm, Team Bibwak, Team Cebumba 1 and 2, Davao City’s Team PALS Outdoor, Team Quest Rangers, Team Aboitiz Power Army and Polomolok’s Team DOLEFIL and Team Friends of Mt. Matutum.

“The higher percentage of finishers is mainly attributed to the modification of the route,” said Engr. Gabriel.

In the inter-collegiate category, Team Brokenshire College bested two other opponents to claim the amateur crown as sponsored by the Franklin Baker Company of the Philippines.

The Local Government of Sta. Cruz, being the lead agency of the event as a major highlight of its Annual Pista sa Kinaiyahan, was strongly backed by the Department of Tourism XI. Private sectors who also contributed much to the success of the events are as follows: San Miguel Brewery, Inc., Aboitiz Power, Columbia Sportswear Company, Mountain Hard Wear, Franklin Baker Company of the Philippines, Cebu Pacific Air and Rexona.