The fastest Filipino and Filipina in the 42K centerpiece event will be crowned the MILO Marathon King and Queen, and will receive a cash prize of a PHP 150,000 each. If the King and Queen also win the open category, they will also be awarded the corresponding cash prize of PHP 300,000. An invisible time barrier is also set for the race, and if the King and Queen are able to break this, an additional PHP 50,000 will be awarded. A whopping total of PHP 500,000 awaits the champions.
In addition to the prize money and trophies, this year’s King and Queen will be sent by MILO to the USA on all-expense paid trips, for a chance to run in the prestigious 2016 Boston Marathon, the world's oldest annual marathon. One of the six World Marathon Majors, the Boston Marathon ranks as one of the world's best-known road racing events. It is considered as the Mecca of all races, where the best of the best runners compete.
To further inspire the 42K homegrown runners to push their limits and help champions move forward, local runners who finish amongst the top winners of the open category will also win the prize for the local category corresponding to their respective ranks. Bonus prizes will also be given to the first runner who breaks the 2:15:00 invisible time barrier (Php 100,000), the first male runner who breaks the 2:18:53 men’s course record of 5-time MILO Marathon King Eduardo Buenavista (Php 50,000), and the first female runner who breaks the 2:48:00 women’s course record of back-to-back MILO Marathon Queen Mary Joy Tabal (Php 50,000).
Well-known personalities have also booked their slots in the grand finale, including Kim Atienza, Yayo Aguila, Ara Mina and JC Parker. The nation’s best sprinters will be up against each other to win the biggest title. NMM regional winners and qualifiers will also be on their toes, especially elite runners Eduardo Buenavista, Cellie Rose Jaro, Ireneo Raquin, Mary Grace Delos Santos, Julius Sermona, Lany Cardona and Crestabel Martes to compete the full marathon race. Last year’s top foreign runners James Tallam, Josphat Kiptanui and Joel Kiplimo Kemboi are also expected to go full throttle in the open category on Sunday.
The gun start for participants of the 42K run is at 3:00AM, the 21K run at 4:30AM, 10K run at 5:00AM, 3K run at 5:30AM and 5K run at 5:35AM. The starting line and finish line will be in SM Clark.