By Alona Cohon
ROME – Italy-based runner Lorenzo Castro Jr. emerged the best Filipino runner after securing 18th place in the 30th Acea Run Rome the Marathon dominated by the elite Kenyans over the weekend.
Castro bucked slippery roads and crossed the finish line of the men’s 42.195-kilometer race in two hours, 31 minutes, and 13 seconds on Sunday.
Among some 28,000 participants were at least 100 Filipinos, many of them based in Europe.
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri waved the Italian flag to kick off the race at 8:15 a.m. at Fori Imperiali, passing through famous landmarks such as the Colosseum, Arc of Constantine and St. Peter’s Basilica.
The marathon ended at Circo Massimo, an ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium and mass entertainment venue.
As expected, the Kenyan runners swept the men’s and women’s categories, with Robert Ngeno claiming his first marathon victory with a personal best 2:07.35 while Betty Chepkwony won her second Rome Marathon title in 2:26.16, two years after her initial success.
Brian Kipsang and Joshua Kogo completed the all-Kenyan men’s podium as they finished second (2:07.58) and third (2:08.10), respectively.
Ethiopia’s Selam Fente Gebre finished second (2:28:22) while Kenyan Rebecca Kangogo secured third spot (2:31:16) in the women’s division.
Rome Filipino International Pacers awarded Castro with Best Male (Filipino) Runner, and Fil-Deutch sprinter Rachel de Weerd with Best Female Runner.
“This is really one of my dreams to run in the Eternal City and good preparation for my Boston Marathon next month,” de Weerd said.
On March 14, the Filipino participants representing 26 teams paid a courtesy call on Philippine Ambassador to Italy Nathaniel Imperial.
For the third time, Pinoy Teens Salinlahi joined to cheer the marathoners and to showcase the folklore and culture of the Philippines at the 29-km mark. (Alona Cohon/PNA)
