The 2026 Cebu City Marathon (CCM), held on Sunday, January 11, has been hit by a wave of criticism from participants, echoing organizational issues from the previous year. The event, which attracted an estimated 12,000 runners from 47 countries, faced significant backlash primarily due to a chaotic and delayed medal distribution process that began only at 7:00 AM, long after many finishers had completed their races.
Frustration at the Finish Line
Participants were forced to wait for extended periods to receive their finisher's medals, a standard typically awarded immediately upon crossing the line. This delay sparked visible discontent, with runners booing during the program. The frustration spilled onto social media, where an Austrian national expressed his disappointment, stating he had taken three flights to participate only to return home without a medal. Another runner sarcastically suggested that medals should simply be included in the race kit alongside the finisher's shirt to avoid the hassle.
One runner commented on a live video of the CCM awarding ceremony, "You welcome runners from outside Cebu, yet you fail to organize your run properly. You're just an embarrassment." Organizer John Pages of the Cebu Executive Runners Club, when contacted by SunStar Cebu via text message on Sunday, stated they had no official statement ready for release.
Promises Versus Reality
The negative feedback stands in stark contrast to promises made during the CCM press conference in July 2025. At that time, Pages assured runners they could expect a "smoother and better Cebu Marathon" and pledged a more organized event. Organizers had also committed to addressing concerns raised by participants from past editions of the marathon.
Despite the medal fiasco, some aspects of the race were noted as improvements. Rhendon Arcilla, a 42km runner who set a new personal record, mentioned in an interview that the race itself went smoothly except for the medal handout. On his second CCM, he observed better race management due to increased police presence along the route. However, when asked if he would join next year, Arcilla replied, "It depends," adding, "It's discouraging."
Logistical Hiccups and Silver Linings
The event saw other logistical challenges. While organizers upgraded food provisions for the 42K and 21K categories from the previous year's bread and bananas to meals from a fast-food chain, supplies ran out. Some runners received alternative food packs containing boiled eggs, longganisa (sausage), puso (hanging rice), and a banana.
On a positive note, the marathon route for the 42k category showcased scenic and historic landmarks of Cebu City, including the Cebu South Coastal Road tunnel, the Capitol building, Fuente Osmeña circle, and the Cebu Cordova Lapu-Lapu Expressway (CCLEX). Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival attended the gunstart at midnight. Furthermore, the CCM is now an Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) certified event, meaning participants can use their recorded times to qualify for major international marathons.
The winners of the 2026 edition are as follows: In the 42K men's category, Kenyan Eric Chepsiror (2:30:53), Florendo Lapiz (2:32:46), and Kenyan Luka Lagat (2:32:53). The 42K women's category winners were Artjoy Torregosa (2:53:17), Lizane Abella (3:13:33), and April Joy Alampayan (3:16:06). For the 21K men's, Daniel Boiwo (1:09:00), Richard Salaño (1:10:09), and Rogen Aguirre (1:11:04). The 21K women's winners were Michelle Zamora (1:25:47), Jessa Mae Roda (1:27:50), and Pia Englyst (1:29:51).
Other category winners included Mark Mahinay (32:32), Stephine Delariarte (33:13), and Mark Gumaya (33:54) in the 10K men's; Edna Magtubo (38:31), Asia Paraase (41:07), and Jeanly Mata (44:03) in the 10K women's; Dhem Aj Monton (15:07), Noli Torre (15:15), and Kharl Francis Hubag (15:34) in the 5K men's; and Jasrain Mizzy Noval (19:43), Reilizha Kendra Cabiles (19:56), and Laarne Dinoy (20:04) in the 5K women's.
