Two marathoners who ran in LA may lose SEAG slot

MANILA, Philippines - Marathoners Mary Grace Tabal and Rafael Poliquit faced disqualification from the national team bound for the SEA Games in Singapore after competing in the recent Los Angeles Marathon without the approval from the Philippine Track and Field Association.

“This is insubordination but we will give them due process,” said Philip Ella Juico, who was elected president of PATAFA that was immediately recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee Wednesday.

“We want an explanation from them why they should not be dropped from the national team and why they still ran without the permission of our national coaches,” he added.

Tabal and Poliquit were reportedly forced to compete in the LA run to honor a commitment with their sponsor.

“We told them that they will be in danger of suffering a micro tear if they compete in two marathons in a short span but they didn’t obey it,” said PATAFA secretary-general Renato Unso.

The SEA Games is set June 5-19 in Singapore.

Tabal and Poliquit were the latest names to be added to the roster of national team mainstays in danger of losing their spots to the Singapore-bound squad after long jumper Henry Dagmil was told to vie for his berth in a jump-off for failing to join the National Open in Sta. Cruz, Laguna last week.

Dagmil, a SEAG gold medalist and an elite ahtlete receiving a monthly stipend of P40,000, will be disputing the berth with Julian Fuentes and Benigno Marayag in a jump-off set next month.

Fil-Am Donovan Arriola clinched the first spot after capturing the gold with a jump of 7.59 meters in the National Open.

Fuentes and Marayag settled for the silver and bronze in 7.55m and 7.43m but may still make it to the team if one of them beats Dagmil, the current national long jump record holder.