Mary Joy Tabal won the gold medal in the women’s marathon competition of the 29th Southeast Asian Games on Saturday morning at the Presint 3 in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
It was the Philippines’ first gold medal in this year’s SEA Games.
The Filipina runner ruled the marathon with a time of 2:48:24.
“Yung last loop halos di ko magalaw yung mga paa ko sa sobrang excitement. Pero kino-control ko po kasi ayaw ko mabigo yung bansa natin,” Tabal said moments after the race. “Ang nasa isip ko po, ‘I want to give the Filipinos what we are expected to do.’”
The national anthem is played as Mary Joy Tabal is awarded her gold medal in the women's marathon. pic.twitter.com/0G4U3GT64W— Sid Ventura (@Sid_Ventura) August 19, 2017
Mary Joy Tabal poses with Filipino fans with her gold medal. The Pinoys were mostly participants in a fun run held after the SEAG marathon. pic.twitter.com/C6MNjUwg2s— Sid Ventura (@Sid_Ventura) August 19, 2017
Tabal, who only finished with the silver medal in the 2015 edition of the biennial event, had declared heading into the competition in Kuala Lumpur her ultimate goal was to win gold.
Meanwhile, fellow Filipino runner Jeson Agravante suffered cramps just a few kilometers from the finish line of the men’s marathon event. - JC Ansis/Sports5.ph
SOURCE: http://sports.tv5.com.ph/summitseagames/article/mary-joy-tabal-gives-ph-first-gold-in-2017-sea-games#ixzz4q9xtKOmc