Team 7-Eleven Philippines Triumphs at Amazing Thailand Pattaya Marathon 2023

Team 7-Eleven Philippines runners pose for a souvenir photo at the Suvarnabhumi Aiport in Thailand before flying back home on Monday, 24th July 2023.

MANILA – In a remarkable display of grit and determination, Team 7-Eleven Philippines took on the daunting challenge of the Amazing Thailand Pattaya Marathon 2023, which concluded amidst relentless rain and fierce competition. Despite these formidable obstacles, the team’s resilience shone through, with an impressive 13 out of 18 runners securing top honors in the overall and age group categories.

Leading the team to the 21km Female podium’s second spot was Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist, Christine Hallasgo, with a time of 1:21:34, finishing 27 seconds behind the top finisher, Ethiopia’s Gebyehu Adbaru. Thailand’s Ornanong Wongsorn (1:26:09) and Laos’ Lodkeo Inthakoumman (1:28:08) took the third and fourth spots, respectively. Meanwhile, regular Team 7-Eleven Philippines qualifier, Nhea Ann Barcena, finished fifth at 1:29:06.

In the Male division also of the half marathon, another SEA Games athlete and regular Team 7-Eleven Philippines qualifier, Richard Salaño, grabbed the third podium spot with a time of 1:12:04. He finished behind Kenyan John Muiruri (1:09:40) and Thailand’s Sanchia Namkhet (1:09:51). Teammate Prince Joey Lee secured the fifth spot with a time of 1:13:02, just 16 seconds behind Ethiopian Kebede Aberra Dinke who finished fourth (1:12:46).

First-time team qualifier, James Kevin Cruz, was the lone Filipino runner who landed in the Top 5 Overall spot of the full marathon, finishing at 2:45:55 to settle for fifth place. Cruz came in behind the top four finishers Bililign Yimer (2:22:27), Ebisa Takele (2:25:10), Wendwesen Tilahun (2:30:15), all from Ethiopia, and Kenyan Victor Kipkemei Chepkwony (2:35:48).

Additionally, eight more members of the team went home with honors, ranking at the top of their respective distance’s Age Group Category. Team 7-Eleven rookies Cherry Andrin and Artjoy Torregosa finished first and second in the 21km Female 16-29 Age Group, with times of 1:32:11 and 1:38:24, respectively. For the 21km Male division of the same age group, Team 7-Eleven rookies Jason Padayao secured the first spot with a time of 1:13:22, and Dhem Aj Monton took the second spot at 1:15:06.

In the 42km Male 30-39 Age Group, Florendo Lapiz landed on top with a time of 2:49:03. For the 42km Female Division, team regular Maricar Camacho (3:19:44), rookie Jennylyn Nobleza (3:21:35), and returnee Lizanne Abella (3:34:24) swept the top three spots of the 30-39 Age Group.

The Pattaya Marathon is an annual race held in the scenic city of Pattaya, Thailand, renowned for its beautiful beaches. This year, the race saw its largest number of participants ever, with 14,000 participants from 52 countries.  This race was the perfect opportunity for the team to exhibit their exceptional talent and proudly represent not only 7-Eleven Philippines but also our country, the Philippines.

“I am immensely proud and overjoyed with the performance of our runners at the Amazing Thailand Pattaya Marathon 2023. Despite the relentless rain and tough competition, they displayed unwavering determination and tenacity, making us all proud. I reaffirm 7-Eleven’s commitment to this grass-roots program dedicated to nurturing and supporting Filipino runners. We will continue to provide opportunities for our athletes to excel and represent our country with pride on the international stage.” – Mr. Jose C. Ang Jr., 7-Eleven General Merchandise Division Head and Managing Director for Digital.

The Amazing Thailand Pattaya Marathon 2023 event honored the Male and Female Top 5 Overall and Top 3 Age Group finishers with trophies and cash prizes. Additionally, Team 7-Eleven Philippines runners who achieved a Top 3 Overall ranking in their respective category will be rewarded with a special incentive from 7-Eleven Philippines, further recognizing their outstanding achievements.

“We, the 7-Eleven Run Series Team, take great joy in offering our runners the chance to compete on an international stage, showcasing their exceptional running skills and bringing pride to our nation. As we wholeheartedly support our athletes, I urge everyone to continue their unwavering support for 7-Eleven and show patronage to our brand sponsors’ products. Together, we can sustain this meaningful advocacy and empower our runners to achieve even greater heights.”, said Ms. Michelle Saludes, 7-Eleven Run Series Project Head and Section Manager for Exclusives and Events.

Team 7-Eleven Philippines arrived in Pattaya, Thailand’s Chon Buri province on Friday, July 21, 2023, and had the opportunity to explore this distinctive city before the race. The pre-race tour included a visit to the World’s Largest 7-Eleven Store, the 7-Eleven Pattaya, where the runners enjoyed complimentary shopping for their essentials throughout the trip. The delegation also visited the Honey Natural Farm and the Pattaya Floating Market. The trip culminated with a memorable All-Star Dinner Cruise Pattaya experience, providing the runners with a chance to relax and savor the experience without any pressure, and thoroughly enjoy the occasion.

This trip was made possible through the efforts of Philippine Seven Corporation together with the valuable support of Anta as Official Sportswear Partner, Selecta, Cornetto, Pocari Sweat, SIP, Nature Spring, Le Minerale, Kopiko Lucky Day, Cali, Pepsi, Gatorade, Mt. Dew, Summit, Absolute, Cobra, C2, Nova, Refresh, Coca Cola, Minute Maid, Wilkins, Motivo, Smart, TV5, and One Sport.