From the SEA Games in Singapore last year, to the Boston and Ottawa Marathon events, to the Olympics in Rio de Janiero and now, a new record time in the Milo Marathon right here in the city of love.
Mary Joy Tabal has definitely come a long way and on Sunday, she capped her road to glory by ruling the women’s 42K of the National Finals at the Iloilo Convention Center.
Tabal ruled the race in record-breaking fashion as she crossed the finished line 23 minutes ahead of her closest pursuer, former champion Cristabel Martes.
A silver medalist in the SEA Games last year, Tabal clocked 2:47.49, shattering her own record of 2:48.00 in 2013.
“One month before the event, I was really worried of getting the title here. I don’t know if I made the right preparation because I’ve been through a lot of training,” Tabal said during the press conference.
But her year-round exposure has helped Tabal on her way to competing in the Milo Marathon finals held in Iloilo for the first time even though her coach, Philip Duenas advised her to slow things down a month before the event.
“Worried ako nung umpisa kasi nga ang dami kong sinalihang event all year long. I might get injured or get burned out,” added Tabal.
Tabal collected a combined total prize of P450,000 for her performances in the women’s local and open categories plus a bonus for the record time.
Martes, a veteran campaigner and a former champion of this event, came in 23 minutes later. She finished with a time of three hours, 10 minutes and 11 seconds. Lizane Abella checked in at three hours, 14 minutes and 27 seconds to place third.
In the men’s category, Jeson Agravante became the latest champion after outlasting his more illustrious counterparts that included many-time champion Eduardo Buenavista and Crescenciano Sabay, who made it to the top 10.
Agravante finished the race in two hours and 35 minutes and 11 seconds.
