OLYMPIAN Mary Joy Tabal completed a five-peat in the 7th SM2SM Run, conquering the women’s 21-kilometer category in a rain-drenched race yesterday at the SM City Cebu parking area.
Tabal completed the half-marathon in 1 hour, 25 minutes and 5 seconds to win her fifth women’s 21K title and the P70,000 cash prize.
The 27-year-old Tabal led more than two minutes over second placer Ruffa Sorongon. Christabel Martes came third with a time of 1:29:35.
“I was not yet in my top shape, my time is not quite good, but I’m still satisfied with my performance. I’m starting to pace myself for my training for the 2017 Southeast Asian Games,” said Tabal, who’s eyeing to train in Italy this April.
Visiting runner Richard Salano, a former varsity of University of the East, won the men’s 21K race in 1:13:18, beating former two-time Milo Marathon king Rafael Poliquit, who came a step behind in 1:13:19. Macline Sadia, who was also part of the close finish, settled for third place in 1:13:20.
Prince Joey Lee and Cindy Lorenzo, meanwhile, ruled the men’s and women’s 12K category. Lee finished the race in 40:34 to win the men’s title over Reynold Villafranca (41:13) and Jujet De Asis (41:57).
Lorenzo won the women’s class in 48:38, beating Lany Chang and Lizane Cardo who finished in 49:41 and 49:46, respectively.
Noel Tillor tested his prowess in the short distance and topped the men’s 7K category in 24:02. John Daryll Manos placed second in 24:32 and Jobert Carolino was third with 25:13.
Weekend warrior Cherry Andrin dominated the women’s 7K, clocking 29:20. Junior triathlete Karen Andrea Manayon took second place in 31:15, while Hazel Faye Laude was a distant third in 39:02.