NEGRENSE Rolando "Junjun" Espina Jr. will represent the Philippines in the Spartathlon race this coming September 30 to October 1 in Greece.

He is the first Filipino invited to join the Sparta race.

Espina, son of journalist Rolly Espina, is a marathoner who has won major events, including the UK Eskraghman Ironman Distance Triathlon in Eskraghman, Dungannon, Northern Ireland in 2014 and 2015.

Spartathlon, which allows only a maximum of 390 runners around the world, known to be the toughest ultra-marathon road race in the world – not because of the distance covering 246.8 kilometers under 36 hours, or the extreme conditions and the steep uphill-downhill course, but because of the relentless pressure of making it in time in all 75 checkpoints from start to finish.

Read more ➤ Negrense runner is first Filipino in Sparta race