Cebu-based Kenyan runner Eric Chepsiror and local athlete Art Joy Torregosa emerged as champions in the 21-kilometer races of the inaugural Governor’s Zero Hunger Run, leading more than 3,500 participants in the charity sporting event held on Sunday.
Chepsiror dominated the men’s premier division after clocking 1 hour, 12 minutes, and 59.96 seconds to secure the top spot. Fellow Kenyan runners Daniel Boiwo and Luka Lagat followed behind, finishing second and third with times of 1:13:23.77 and 1:14:27.19, respectively.
John Veloso Pomeroy placed fourth with a time of 1:29:20.66, while Temistocles Dela Concepcion completed the top five finishers at 1:35:54.21.
In the women’s 21K category, Torregosa claimed the championship after finishing the race in 1:32:16.92. She was followed by Kay Razel Cubdangan, Josephine Rodriguez, April Joy Rapiz, and Addygel Mie Truz.
Chepsiror and Torregosa each received P20,000 for their victories, while the second and third placers earned P15,000 and P10,000, respectively. Fourth and fifth placers received P5,000 each.
Organized by the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission, the Governor’s Zero Hunger Run was held as part of Cebu’s 457th Founding Anniversary celebration and served as a fundraising activity for the provincial government’s anti-hunger campaign.
Gov. Pam calls race a “dream come true”
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, who joined the 1K fun run alongside more than 500 guest runners, expressed gratitude to all participants who supported the provincial government’s advocacy against hunger.
“If you want to eliminate hunger, you have to involve everybody,” Baricuatro said.
The governor described the charity race as a dream come true, saying the event reflects Cebu’s collective effort to address hunger and support vulnerable communities.
Baricuatro also expressed openness to expanding the event into an international race in next year’s edition.
Members of the Cebu Provincial Board, Capitol executives, and employees also participated in the different race categories to show support for the governor’s hunger elimination campaign.
Winners in other categories
Mark Mahinay and Lynnel Martus captured the men’s and women’s 12K titles, respectively.
Jacob Cagomoc and Jasrain Mizzy Noval emerged as champions in the 6K races, while Jean Emard Valmoria and Jane Pangalao topped the men’s and women’s 3K categories.
The event featured four competitive race categories and a noncompetitive 1K fun run. Nearly P250,000 in cash prizes were awarded to winners, while participants who did not place also had the chance to win raffle prizes.
Raffle prizes included P88,000 in cash, an iPhone 15, a laptop, motorcycles, and other major giveaways.
The successful staging of the first Governor’s Zero Hunger Run highlighted the role of sports in bringing communities together while supporting efforts to fight hunger in Cebu.
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