Never too late

A COUPLE of late bloomers topped the Milo Marathon Cebu Leg yesterday—one rues the chances he could have gotten from running, while the other relishes the opportunities she is getting.

Twenty-seven-year-old Adonis Singson Sr. won the men's division in 1:15:15, beating Jobert Carolino by 24 seconds for his first major title since picking up the sport in 2004. Sherwin Managil got third in 1:17:10.

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On the other hand, 21-year-old Joy Tabal, who started distance running last year, won the women's title in 1:28:44, beating defending champion Madelyn Carter (1:31:30).
Emily Rosas was a distant third at 1:52:56).

Tabal's win came almost a year after she fainted in her first 10K, the Don Sergio Osmena Run.

For Singson, the victory reminded him of what he could have achieved had he picked up the sport earlier.

He only finished high school and sells chicharon on the street to help support his wife and son.

"It was in 2006 nga na improve akong performance. How I wanted to use my talent to earn an educational scholarship but I was already over-aged," said Singson, who won his third title this year.

Singson started running in 2004 out of curiosity when he was 21, an age when most kids graduate from college.

"Nindut unta kung sayo pako nagsugod, unya naay naka train nako ug sakto," he said. (It would have been good had I started earlier and was able to train properly).

Now that a scholarship is beyond his reach, he's running for his family and the P10,000 first prize he earned yesterday will go a long way for his son and namesake Adonis Singson Jr.

"I am doing this for my family now. They are my sole inspiration,” Singson said.

Singson also qualified for the Milo Marathon National Finals and will have a chance to fight for the P300,000 top prize in the men’s division.

On the other hand, Tabal has come a long way since she joined her first running event, wearing a skirt.

“When I was in high school, I was not really into any sport. I was just an ordinary spectator who cheered for my friends. When I was in college, I tried different sports until I got curious enough to try participating in track and field during our intramurals last 2006,” Tabal said.

Tabal fondly recalls wearing a skirt when she joined a 100-meter run that year, and despite wearing the wrong outfit, she won the event.

Coach Honorato Corpin approached her and invited her to join Southwestern University’s track team.

She didn’t hesitate.

“When coach Corpin approached me and invited me to join the track and field team, wala ko nagduha duha, I grabbed the opportunity because this means I will also earn an educational scholarship,” said Tabal, a fourth year BS Commerce major in management student.

Tabal, the second of four children of a police officer, started joining running events last year and collapsed in her first attempt.

Still, she finished fifth in the Don Sergio Osmeña Run.

“Sugod ato nag hinayhinay naku join ug mga distance runs and I promised to myself na dili na mausab tong nakuyapan ko,” said Tabal.

Tabal joined the 5K events and dominated the field.

Yesterday was her first time to compete in the 21K.

“I am so happy of what I have achieved. This is my first 21K experience. Nagbunga gyud ang akong trainings, I will do my best in the nationals,” Tabal said.

Other winners yesterday were Jordan Bacong and Christy Sevilleno Tutor in the 10K and Michael Estrera and Sheena Gacayan in the 5K.