Bontoc, Mt. Province – Gretchen Felipe from Itogon, Benguet was hailed by the Philippine Trail Running Association (PhilTRA) as the 2023 Female Champion for a short distance after winning the organization’s National Championship.
This year’s national train run explored the challenging mountain running with breathtaking sceneries and heritage trails of Bontoc town in Mt. Province.
Held this February 26, the duly coordinated event was participated by locals and international runners, including kids. It was made open to participants of all levels of abilities, says the sports digital platform RaceYa.
Organized by PhilTRA, the event hosted the Philippine Trail Running Championships and was sanctioned by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association.
Taking the win for a short distance is the 30-year-old female runner of Itogon. She was also proclaimed as the Champion (Vertical Kilometer Distance) in Cordillera Mountain Ultra-Vertical held on Dec. 03, 2022, in Benguet. In her first Spartan Trail in Alviera Porac, Pampanga, she finished as second runner-up.
Ending as the 2023 Female PhilTRA National Championships' first runner-up for a short distance is Angeli Cabalo from South Cotabato.
Meanwhile, 43-year-old Christabel Martes from Buyagan, Benguet landed second runner-up in the Bontoc Mountain Run. The two-time Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) marathon queen is included in Baguio’s Heroes Wall of Fame.
Just in July 2022, Martes won the 21-kilometer trail run at Timberland Heights, San Mateo, Rizal. In November 2022, she again took the win in her Spartan race at the same distance at the said venue.
In the World’s Highest Marathon – Vertical Kilometer Category at Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania in May last year, she was able to settle as first runner-up. Also, among her recent achievements were the three awards she got in the International Masters Championship held in November 2022.
Felicitations from Gov. Lacwasan
In a statement, Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan congratulated all winners, participants, organizers and support groups from all over the country who took part in the Bontoc Mountain Run and had a taste of what their mountains can offer.
"May our trails continue to beckon you to revisit our place," he said as he invited them to their upcoming Lang-ay Cultural Festival slated for March 27 to April 5.
The non-profit PhilTRA aims to provide local and international representation in the sport of trail running while striving to be the local accreditation body for trail races and activities in the country.
The organization is set to conduct Banaue Ultramarathon alongside the town’s “Imbayah Festival” in April 2023. Interested participants may refer to this link for details.
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