By JONAS TERRADO
CEBU CITY – Mary Joy Tabal fell to her knees and began to cry after completing the most difficult challenge of her marathon career.
Tabal overcame the loss of her father on the eve of what would have been a festive homecoming and completed a bittersweet ascension to a fifth straight National Milo Marathon yesterday in this city.
“I consider this as the hardest race I ever joined,” said Tabal following the race that ended at the Cebu City Sports Center here.
Rolando, a retired policeman, was 58 when he expired Saturday morning from a lingering illness, denying Mary Joy a father-daughter moment that was promised to her days before the race.
“Magkikita sana kami after ng race,” Tabal said, recalling an earlier message he got from his dad shortly after arriving from training camp in Italy.
Despite emotional fatigue, Mary Joy took control of the race right from the gun to emerge as the fastest among local runners and third in the open category despite being 10 minutes behind her personal best.
“Parang gusto ko umiyak na hindi ako naiyak. Hindi ko maintindihan,” Tabal said. “But I’m very lucky kasi hindi pa rin ako pinabayaan. Natapos ko pa rin yung race, nadefend ko yung title. God is very good to me despite kung anu pinagdaanan namin.”
Four-time champion Christabel Martes placed second at 3:04:20 while Jho-an Villarama was third at 3:11:26.
Overshadowed by Tabal’s emotional win was the unlikely triumph of 24-year-old Joerge Andrade of Davao in the male category.
Andrade, who sells outdoor equipment in his hometown of Digos City, stunned his seasoned rivals and became Marathon King in 2:39:34 despite participating in the National Finals for the first time.
Erick Panique came in second, less than three minutes behind, while veteran Eduardo Buenavista was third after being denied again of a record-tying sixth crown.