Tabal in one of her victories. —CONTRIBUTED
Five-time champion and Olympian Mary Joy Tabal will try to win her last full marathon event this year when she banners more than 800 qualifiers in the 42nd National Milo Marathon Finals in Laoag City on Sunday.
The 29-year-old Tabal, currently on a break from training in Tuscany, Italy, has won the the Milo run consecutively since 2013 and holds the women’s record of two hours, 47 minutes and 49 seconds set in 2016.
Last year, she crossed the finish line in her hometown of Cebu in tears as her father, Rolando Sr., passed away the day before the race.
“I dedicate all my races to Papa, especially now that he’s gone,” said Tabal, who competed in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and wants a shot at another stint in 2020 in Tokyo. “I know Papa is always watching over me.”
Men’s defending champion Joerge Andrade, a 25-year-old from Davao, will also defend his title. He won in 2:39:34 last year.
As in the previous years, the Milo King and Queen will receive P150,000 each and will be sent to an all-expenses paid trip to an international marathon.
The Open category champions, where Tabal placed third last year for an additional P200,000 prize, will get P300,000 each.
Veterans like five-time King Eduardo “Vertek” Buenavista, Eric Panique and 2016 winner Jeson Agravante will challenge Andrade while Tabal will try to ward off four-time Queen Christabel Martes, Luisa Raterta and Christine Hallasgo, among others.
An estimated 12,000 runners in the 3K, 5K, 10K, 21K and 42K categories will converge at the start line infront of Centennial Arena in the Ilocos Norte capital.
The 42K run starts 3 a.m., 21K at 4:30 a.m., 10K at 5 a.m., 3K at 5:30 a.m. and 5K at 5:35 a.m. All races end at President Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium.
Milo’s nationwide “Help Give Shoes” advocacy will donate 1,500 pairs to students of Cabeza and Shamrock elementary schools.