The Warrior Ultra course records ripped; Melinda must be proud

By owrange on 2 October, 2012 in Race Reports, Ultramarathon 1

by Rose Buenconsejo

Noel Tillor’s 4:49:13 course record (CR) last year was shattered not once, not thrice but ninth times in this year’s edition of the The Warrior 50K; while five ultra Warrior women broke Melinda Ponce’s 5:39:25.

(Note from Doc Will’s comment regarding CRs he posted on Dailymile: “last year’s distance is 53.7 kms compared to 49.9 this year. based on ave pace, only preciosa sanchez (6:06min/km) can break melinda’s record (6:19min/km pace”).

(See the official and complete The Warrior Ultramarathon Cebu race result/Finisher’s list here >>)

Male Category

Noel Tillor broke his own course record time by one hour and a minute when he finished with 3:48:26 this time. It’s expected as his last 50K finish time at the “I Shall Return Ultra” (Tacloban, Leyte) was faster by three minutes. Our pre-race prediction came true that there could be a sit-on-the-edge moment in the male category as Paul James Zafico (3:51:46) clocked in just five minutes behind Tillor.

In this year’s Cebu ultra races where Tillor is the champ, it was yet during the Warrior ultra when the gap between him and the 2nd placer is closest — just a 5-minute difference. Third placer, Jieter Bada, clocked in at 4:25:50. It looks like Jieter has a lot of catching up to do, but for a newcomer, he poses quite a challenge to the veterans.

The Warrior Ultra Marathon Cebu Top Male Winners: Noel Tillor, Paul Zafico, Jieter Bada

Jieter: That place will soon be mine. (Photo by Starkey Apilado)

Female Category

New names claimed the Top 3 places in the female category: Preciousa Sanchez (5:05:35), followed by Sandra Soliano (5:20:32) and Path Toremoro (5:32:49). Our pre-race prediction only got one name right — Soliano.

Though our pre-race prediction for females were mostly misses instead of hits, we still got few items right.

Sandra Soliano got her redemption.

The Warrior Ultra Marathon Race Cebu Female Top winners: Preciousa Sanchez, Sandra Soliano, Path Torremoro

Sandra: Bleehh CCM DNF. (Photo by Lucille Ruiz)

Odiza “Jade” Abellana seems to prefer the supporting cast. She took the kontra bida role this time by giving the girls a scare by zooming fast in the first stretch.

Jade Abellana, cebu female ultra runner elite

Photo by Mhalou Villamala

But like in a typical Pinoy soap opera, the lead actress will emerge victorious further in the drama.

preciousa sanchez, the ultra warrior cebu race female champion

Preciousa Sanchez, The Warrior Ultra Race Cebu 2012 Female Champion (Photo by Lucille Ruiz)

And, Doc King did not fail us by not finishing the race without a jump shot.

Kathrina Saavedra Perez, doctor ultra runner from cebu

Looking forward soon to her Badwater edition (Photo by Reynan Opada)

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You can find The Warrior Ultra Marathon 2012 (Cebu) photos from the following:

RedLeppsPics Album here >>

the warrior ultramarathon cebu (lapu-lapu to compostela) pictures

ultra brotherhood love (by RedLeppsPics)

Roy Delez 50k BE Warrior Ultramarathon album here >>

much sisterly ultra love by Roy Delez

REYNAN’s PICs THE WARRIOR ULTRAMARATHON album >>

reynan opada, photographer of cebu running events / races / sporting events

multi-tasking runner by Reynan Opada

You can also check later on John Domingo’s albums.

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Rose Buenconsejo is an ultramarathon runner mom-of-three, who loves pounding the trails of Cebu, Philippines. She writes ‘thoughts from the foot’ at rawsole.com.