Mary Joy Tabal crumpled on the floor and began to weep.
Tabal had just crossed the finish line to extend her reign as the Philippines’ undisputed marathon queen and end what had been a highly emotional last 24 hours following the death of her father Rolando Tabal due to complications with pneumonia. He was 58.
”Coming into this race, I know it’s going to be hard because I didn’t get any sleep but I just wanted to finish the race regardless of performance,” a tearful Tabal told reporters during the post-race press conference at Cebu City Sports Center.
”I dedicate this to him. I offer this run to him and I know he was running with me earlier,” she said.
The 28-year-old Tabal on Sunday became the first runner to win the Milo Marathon for five straight years after clocking 2:58:01.
Tabal, the Rio Olympian and SEA Games gold medalist, pulled off the historical feat in her beloved hometown of Cebu, where the biggest running event in the country was staged for the first time.
Mary Joy Tabal bursts into tears after crossing the finish line to win the Milo Marathon for a record fifth consecutive time. Tabal achieved the feat a day following the death of his father. Photo by Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net
Christabel Martes came in second with a time of 3:04:20 while Jho-an Villarama finished third at 3:11:27. Judelyn Miranda (3:14:20) and Ruffa Sorongon (3:15:17) completed the top five.
In the men’s category, Joerge Andrade was the fastest to complete the 42k centerpiece at 2:39:34. Erick Panique followed at 2:42:10, Eduardo Buenavista came in third at 2:43:34, Erinio Raquin in fourth at 2:44:34 while Jerald Zabala wound up fifth at 2:46:59.
An unknown runner from Digos City, Andrade was the biggest surprise of the finale. He left marathon veterans Erick Panique and Eduardo Buenavista in the dust despite participating in only his first crack at the National Finals.
Andrade finished just third in the General Santos leg to earn a slot in the finals.
Tabal still emerged on top despite finishing 11 minutes later than her personal record run of 2:47:53 last year in Iloilo.
Jeson Agravante, last year’s Milo Marathon King, failed to finish the race this time.