Tabal delivers Philippines' 1st gold in 2017 SEAG, rules women's marathon

MANILA, Philippines — Mary Joy Tabal scooped up the Phillipines' first gold medal in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games by dominating the women's marathon in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Saturday.

Tabal paced herself well en route to the impressive finish in the eight-woman race held at a course in front of the Palace of Justice.

Reports said the former Rio Olympian started putting distance between her and her pursuers in the third of five loops.

The Philippines currently has one gold, one silver and two bronzes in the biennial sports meet, which formally kicks off Saturday night.