The Sante Barley Trilogy Run Asia. Handout Photo.MANILA — Edsel Moral and Erica Nicole Burgos set the tone for the new running season by topping the 16K race of the Sante Barley Trilogy Run Asia on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay.

Over 11,600 runners participated in the first leg in Manila of the famed running series which is celebrating its 15th year organized by Runrio.

“We’re happy to see this turnout and actually, about 5,000 runners joined our 16K. It’s a strong indication to us that what we’ve done over the years has paid off as more and more runners are challenging themselves by taking these longer races,” said Runrio president and CEO Rio de la Cruz.

Moral, the champion of last year’s National Finals, continued his dominance by clocking in 52 minutes and 35 seconds in the first leg of the Manila race to get the better of podium finishers Daniel Jorge Cadavos (57:50) and Manuel Payongayong (58:23) in the men’s division.

National triathlon team member Burgos, on the other hand, timed her run at one hour, five minutes, and 33 seconds to be the best in the women’s division, besting Maricar Camacho (1:07:28) and Jocelyn Elijeran (1:09:35) in this race.

In the 10K race, James Darrel Orduña (31:22), Eduard Flores (32:27), and Jan Brixiel Moncal (32:44) were the top three among the male, while Mea Gey Niñura (41:44), Cecille Wael (44:28), and Pauline Kaye Escuro (47:47) made the podium among the females.

Almie Perez Aiso (17:13), Sangsoek Lee Kangwoo (17:56), and Jay Fajela (19:28) were the top finishers in the men’s 5K, while Marjorie Diangkinay (25:11), Pauline Cases (25:34), at Luiji Amor Tiamzon (25:55) were the best in the women’s 5K.

It’s a strong turnout for Manila’s leg one, with the next legs set on May 2 and July 13.

Other cities staging their events include Cebu, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao.