BACK with a bang.
Jason Darrel Orduña and Jessa Mae Roda ruled the first leg of the Rexona Metro Manila 10 Miler Series 2025 that marked its return after an 11-year hiatus over the weekend at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
Orduña showed the way in the 16K category, clocking 52 minutes and 23 seconds and setting a personal best in the race that traversed a scenic route around the country’s capital.
“Dikitan po ang labanan at sa huling kilometro na lang po kami nagkahiwalay,” Orduña said in the race which had Rexona as title sponsor, organized by RUNRIO, and Summit as official hydration partner, ION+ as the official electrolyte partner, Olympic Village as redemption partner, and the National Parks Development Committee as venue partner.
Richie Estampador finished a close second in 52:33, while Ricky Organiza wound up third with a time of 52:34.
Roda was the fastest in the women’s division with a time of 1:04:17, holding off Edna Magtubo (1:04:33) and Maricar Camacho (1:09:04).
“It’s been almost a decade since we did this and we want to give more opportunities to all runners. The beauty about this is we’re showcasing the different cities that are not your typical running destinations,” Total Rexona Brand Manager Annicka Koteh said following the event’s revival after it was last held in 2014.
Nearly half of the 5,000 participants joined the 16K race in the first of the six-leg series which will also go to Muntinlupa, Quezon City, Makati, Paranaque, and finally, in Pasay.
Eduard Flores won the 10K race with a time of 33 minutes and five seconds, with Noli Torre (33:12) and John Brussel Moncal (33:22) following him.
Teresiah Kabul had the best mark in the women’s division at 39 minutes and 30 seconds, with Meljoy Gonzales (43:06) and Jocelyn Elijeran (43:32) next.
Mark Angelo Biagtan finished first in the 5K race, finishing the course in 17 minutes and 25 seconds, followed by Calvin Vidal (17:56) and Jeremy Enreras (18:27), while Jo Punay was the fastest female with her 23 minutes and one second time, with Jysel Gabriel (23:53) and Geneva Valmeo (25:00) completing the podium.
The Rexona Metro Manila 10 Miler Series had Vaseline, Pond’s, Surf, Knorr, Dove & Dove Hair, Close Up, Selecta and Lady’s Choice as gold sponsors; Fitbar, Gardenia, and Clyde as silver sponsors; and Park Access (Nike), Galinco, Katinko, and Chef on A Diet as bronze sponsors.
