Marathoner Mary Joy Tabal has been reinstated into the national pool by the Philippine Track and Field Association (Patafa) after agreeing to comply with the association’s conditions.
Tabal, who saw action in the Rio Olympics, was cut by the Patafa for various infractions but was accepted back after giving in to numerous conditions laid out by Patafa head Philip Juico.
Now in Italy training, Tabal has conformed with the Patafa’s demand that she immediately report to her assigned coach, five-time SEAG champion Rene Herrera, so they could plan out the strategy for the 29th SEAG in Malaysia that happens Aug. 19-30.
Another condition that was met was Tabal’s decision to retract an early statement that she made against the Patafa.
In a statement released by the Patafa yesterday, the association expressed its desire to welcome the Cebu-born Tabal back into its fold as a “positive contributor to the victories that the 33 other members of the athletics team are on well on their way to achieving for the country and the Filipino people.”
Tabal’s inclusion stems from her winning the Scotiabank half marathon last May in Ottawa, Canada.
DIONES WINS
Mark Harry Diones proved he is a solid bet for another podium finish in the KL Games after winning the triple jump event in the 2017 Thailand Open Track and Field Championships yesterday at the Thammasat University Sports Complex.
Diones, the 24-year-old native of Libmanan, Camarines Sur, won the gold medal with a jump of 16.31-meter, a feat that formally secured him a spot in the PH team.
Diones’ win came two months after he ruled the same event during the 2017 Ayala Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships held in Ilagan City. (With a report from Waylon Galvez)
