Tabal, De los Santos dominate

CEBU, Philippines - They saw action together in the same event, although in different categories.

With that, Mary Joy Tabal and Mary Grace de los Santos easily reaffirmed their status among the brightest female stars in Cebu long distance running by topping their respective divisions in yesterday's Cebu leg of the New Balance 10K Run Series at the Terraces of Ayala Center Cebu.

This as the Kenyans led by Josphat Kiptanui and Abraham Missos again scored a clean sweep in the men's division.

The 22-year-old Tabal lorded it over in the women's 10K battle with the time of 39 minutes and nine seconds, way ahead of her closest pursuer Christy Sevilleno-Tutor who clocked in 42:36. Madelyn Carter took the third place honors in 47:18.

De los Santos, who won all six 21K races she joined this year, opted for a shorter distance this time and still made an impact by posting the best time of 19 minutes and 53 seconds in the women's 5K.

De los Santos was ahead by one minute and 25 seconds over Lovely Andrin, while Lovely's sister Jhean placed third in 21:37.

In the 10K men's open, Kiptanui crossed the finish line first with the time of 32 minutes and 51 seconds. Kiptanui's compatriots Francis Kakui and Douglas Mwiti finished second and third with the time of 33:56 and 34:02, respectively.

Missos timed in 16 minutes and 21 seconds to come out the fastest in the men's 5K action followed by Jobert Carolino (16:46) and Joel Delposo (17:28). - THE FREEMAN