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 presented by HOKA and GoMo on Sunday at SM Mall of Asia Complex.

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,” Runrio president Rio dela Cruz said.

“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.”

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.

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