Tabal rules Great Lapu-Lapu Run

CEBU, Philippines - Fresh from a successful stint in the PRISAA National Collegiate Games in Zamboanga, Mary Joy Tabal claimed another title in long distance running after ruling the 2011 Great Lapu-Lapu Run in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday.

Tabal may be exhausted from a triple gold medal and a record-breaking performance in Zamboanga but it didn’t hamper her bid in the half-marathon against Mary Grace delos Santos.

Tabal was leading all the way crossing the finish line first among all female competitors with an hour, 25 minutes and 45 seconds clocking.

De los Santos could only get the second spot in 1:27.46 as Madelyn Carter wound up third with the time of 1:39.02. The next two spots were taken away by Merlita Arias in 1:42.26 and national off-road triathlon queen Lorhiz Echavez in 1:48.27.

 In the men’s side, it was Kenyan Josaphat Kiptanui who dominated the battle with the time of 1:09.26.

Mendel Lopez got the second place in 1:14.22 while the third to fifth placers in were Arnold Onabia (1:15.12), Jeffrey Sotto (1:15.12) and Tabal’s training partner John Philip Duenas (1:16:12).

Despite finishing second only, Lopez still came out very happy as he gets a free trip to Singapore for this year’s Singapore Chartered Marathon in December along with Tabal.

The free trip to Singapore is an incentive given to the top Filipino male and female runners under the 21K run.

The 10K action saw Christy Sevilleno-Tutor taking away the girls top spot with the time of 40 minutes and 18.09 seconds, while Ian Bernido won the men’s division with the time of 31:33.29.

In the 5K run, the top runner in the men’s division was Jess Gonzaga with the time of 16:30.10 and Krisel Diongson in the distaff side in 20:23.58. – THE FREEMAN