Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
    View Today
    Mon, Nov 6

    Christine Hallasgo eclipses Mary Joy Tabal as Pinays go 1-2 in SEA Games marathon

    Christine Hallasgo eclipses Mary Joy Tabal as Pinays go 1-2 in SEA Games marathon
    Dec 6, 2019
    PHOTO: Jerome Ascano

    NEW CLARK CITY – A Filipina ruled the women's marathon of the 30th Southeast Asian Games early Friday morning.

    Her name isn't Mary Joy Tabal.

    Christine Hallasgo upstaged her more fancied teammate in winning the gold in the 42 km event which kicked off competitions in athletics at the New Clark City Stadium.

    Hallasgo clocked 2:56.56 in dethroning the 30-year-old Tabal, who faded late in the race due to exhaustion and finished second.

    SEE ALSO
    SEE ALSO

    "Gusto ko lang makadagdag sa medalya ng Pilipinas lalo na at kami ang unang tumakbo for athletics," said Hallasgo.

    Tabal made it a 1-2 finish for the host as she settled for the silver. Her time was 2:58.49.

    ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓

    The bronze was claimed by Pham Thi Tong Le who was a distant third with a time of 3:02.52.

    But the spotlight fell on the unheralded Hallasgo, who was not really under the radar and took the backseat in favor of her more celebrated teammate.

    She hardly expected the victory especially with Tabal setting the pace early on until the final turn of the race when the 2016 Olympian began showing signs of exhaustion under the sun.

    A native of Malaybalay, Bukidnon, the mother of a three-year old kid crept within the fading Tabal in the final stretch before finally taking the lead at the one kilometer mark just in front of the NCC Aquatics Center.

    The early morning crowd erupted into wild jubilation when the first lady runner to enter the stadium finally arrived, who, to their surprised, wasn’t the fancied Tabal.

    “Hindi ko po akalain na mananalo ako. Tinignan ko lang kung sino ang maaabutan ko,” said Hallasgo, a late addition to the training pool who’s into her first SEA Games stint.

    CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓
    Watch Now

    Tabal salvaged some measure of pride by arriving a few minutes later. She slowly collapsed on both feet shortly upon crossing the finish line and was taken out of the track on a stretcher.

    Agus Prayogo ruled the men's marathon with a time of 2:26.48 followed by Sanchet Namkai (2:27.18) of Thailand for the silver and Malaysia's Muhaizar Mohamad (2:33.08) for the bronze.

    Jerald Zabala, who was running third heading home, settled for fifth place with a clocking of 2:37.20, while compatriot Anthony Nerza followed at sixth with a time of 2:39.20.

    Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph

    Read Next
    Watch Now
    Sorry, no results found for
    PHOTO: Jerome Ascano
  • POLL

    • Quiz

      Quiz Result