Mary Joy Tabal seized a fourth straight crown in record-breaking fashion and Jeson Agravante bagged his first in the 40th Milo Marathon National Finals yesterday in Iloilo.
The Rio de Janeiro Olympian Tabal broke her own mark with a winning time of 2 hours, 47 minutes and 49 seconds.
The 27-year-old Tabal’s previous mark, set in 2013 when she won the first of her four crowns, was 2:48.00 which also broke the previous record of 2:48.16 held by two-time queen Jho-an Banayag.
Christabel Martes, another four-time winner, was second in 3:10:11 and Lizane Abella third with a time of 03:14:27.
In the men’s side, Agravante prevailed in 2:35:13, besting Maclin Sadia (2:35:22) and Julius Sermonia (2:37:01).
The 41st Milo Marathon will kick off in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, on July 16. The National Finals will be held in Cebu City on Dec. 3. —Romina S. Austria