CLARK GLOBAL CITY — The De La Salle Alumni Association Pampanga Chapter is to set to hold the 10^th TCS Clark Animo International Marathon on March 10 this year, promising a more fun and exhilarating run to this year’s event with internationally certified courses and special activities.
With 10,000 runners expected to join the event, it will feature a 42.2 km marathon, a half marathon, as well as 10 km, 5 km, and 2.5 km courses.
“We initially had 600 participants on our first year,” Mr. Melvin Panlilio, president of DLSAA — Pampanga, said. “But our runners and members of DLSAA-P gradually grew through the years, giving us the opportunity to give back to more beneficiaries.
“The TCS Clark Animo International Marathon and associated races are all conducted on IAAF-AIMS Certified Courses. This provides a guarantee to runners that they have run the correct distance and, therefore, their recorded time are valid and will be recognized internationally for qualifying and rankings purposes. This is not only particularly important for runners who aim to join international races like the Boston Marathon, it is for all runners participating in this event. It is never a good outcome to train for a race like a marathon only to discover, after completing the event, that the course they finished did not have the correct distance and their time invalid,” Jumbo Tayag, race director, explained.
To make Animo Run’s 10^th year more exciting, cash prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third placers of the 5 km, 10 km, 21 km, and 42 km distances in the men’s and women’s categories. A special incentive will also be given to runners with the best costume. One runner each from the Adult (18 years old and above) and Kiddie (17 years old and below) categories will likewise receive cash prizes.
This year’s races will see 1,200 participants from Tata Consultancy Services, one of the biggest call center companies in Clark, and a sponsor of the event as well.
Gun start for the 42 km distance will be at 2 a.m.; 4:30 a.m. for the 21 km; 5:30 a.m. for the 10 km; 5:45 a.m. for the 2.5 km; and 6 a.m. for the 2.5 km. Runners are expected to be at the venue 30 minutes before their gun start.
Proceeds of the run will be used to fund DLSAA-P’s environmental and community projects like tree planting, maintenance of the Angeles City Watershed, support for the La Salle Botanical Gardens in Alviera, Porac, Pampanga, as well as the Yellow Boat Foundation for the marginal school children of coastal Pampanga.
TCS Clark Animo International Marathon is made possible by Tata Consultancy Services, Smart, Nepo Center, Cherifer Premium, CMCS Inc, Pampanga’s Best, Genesis Transport, and NLEX Corp. This year’s run is presented by Clark Global City.

MELBOURNE — Simona Halep might be the current number one in women’s tennis but the Romanian believes the best player in the world will be awaiting her when she takes on Serena Williams in the fourth round of the Australian Open.
The 37-year-old American took a year off after the birth of her daughter Alexis Olympia in September 2017, before returning to action last season when she reached the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Serena was eight weeks pregnant when she won the last of her 23 Grand Slam titles at Melbourne Park and, though she has played selective tournaments since motherhood, the American is still the player to beat in the women’s draw at Grand Slams.
French Open champion Halep has topped the rankings since October, 2017.
“In my opinion, to be number one in the world and to be the best player in the world, it’s a little bit different,” Halep told reporters on Saturday after a 6-2 6-3 third round win against the older Williams sister, Venus.
“In this moment, I’m number one in the world, so I will take that. I feel like I have been there many months, many weeks.
“But for sure she’s the best player in the world because she won so many Grand Slams. She’s been a lot on number one. I cannot compare my results to her. But in this moment, I’m confident that I’m in this position, and I’m positive about it.”
HUGE CHALLENGE
The losses in the finals in London and New York left Serena, who is seeded 16^th at Melbourne Park, still seeking a 24^th Grand Slam singles title to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record.
She has lost only nine games this week in her first three rounds.
“I only beat her once in my life, so I cannot say much about this match,” Halep said, referring to her nine overall meetings with Serena.
“Just that it’s going to be a huge challenge for me. It’s always great to play against Serena because every time I have to learn something from the match.”
Halep admitted that she used to be intimidated by Serena when she was younger but said the “great champion” will be just another opponent in the last 16 clash.
“I’m used to this pressure. I’m used to facing her,” Halep said. “I’m in a good position. I feel confident. I played very well today. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be the same against her.
“Definitely it’s the toughest draw I’ve ever had… it’s a huge challenge. Every time I face the (Williams) sisters is a big challenge for me. I just want to try to play my best tennis because I have nothing to lose against them.” — Reuters