ROME — Filipino runners once again made their presence known at Run Rome The Marathon 2026, with Florence resident Lorenzo Castro Jr. emerging as the fastest Filipino participant.
The 43-year-old runner finished the race in 2:29:41, securing a spot in the top 35 overall and placing sixth in his age bracket. Milan-based Mark Robin Salas came next among the Filipino finishers with a time of 2:54:11.
The race drew participation from about 20 Filipino running organizations, while members of the Filipino community gathered along parts of the course to encourage the athletes.
A lively Filipino cheer station at the 31-kilometer point in Piazza Apollodoro added cultural flair to the event. The group Pinoy Teens Salinlahi performed the traditional Tinikling dance, entertaining spectators and runners from around the world.
The marathon also entered the Guinness World Records for having the biggest team of pacemakers, totaling 252 runners from various countries. Three Filipinos — JC, Jeanette and Ashley Santa Teresa — were part of the historic pacer lineup.
First-time marathoner Mark Jason Flores admitted he struggled near the 35-kilometer mark but persevered to finish the race.
“My mind kept me going,” he said, adding that he was excited to return home and show his family the medal he earned.
Before race day, the Filipino runners paid a courtesy visit to the Philippine Embassy in Rome.
The 31st staging of the Rome Marathon gathered around 36,000 participants. Kenyan runners dominated the competition, with Asebel Rutto taking the men’s crown in 2:07:32 and Pascaline Kibiwot Jelagat winning the women’s division with a record-breaking 2:22:44.
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