No marathon heir

Looks like Eduardo “Vertek” Buenavista’s national marathon record of 2:18:44 will stand for a long time. Vertek established the record in the 2004 Tokyo International Marathon. My protégé’ Herman Suizoof Iloilo used to own the marathon mark of 2:19:50, which lasted for more than ten years until Vertek came along. At the moment, no Filipino runner has come close to 2:20:00.

The best current runners could muster is 2:28:00 (“maglisod pa man gani”). That’s the sad state of the marathon in the country. Reminds me of our team, the Nike Running Club, which won 12 consecutive PAL Manila Marathon team crowns. Our team then was composed of the best runners in the Philippines that included three-time Milo Marathon,three-time Alay ng Pangulo champion Jimmy de la Torre, Suizo, who finished 51st place in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Roy Vence, 1996 Atlanta Olympian and six-time Milo Marathon champion. Roy’s best is 2:20, recorded in the Hong Kong Marathon, 1987 Pilipinas International Filipino first finisher Arturo Angel and 1988 Seoul Olympian Hector Begeo.

Even our very own Toto Canete boasts of a 2:27:30 best time. Also, members of the running dynasty were SEA Games marathon champion Allan Ballester and former10,000 meter record holder Mario Castro,Vertek also holds the record in the 10,000 meters when he clocked 29:02 :36 in the 2002 Busan Asian Games while also lording it over in the 5,000 meters with a 13:58:43 mark.

Ever wondered where Vertek got his nickname? Well, Vertek who is the youngest boy in a brood of 13 children, came out of her mother’s womb only 10 months after an older brother was born. His father Ernesto said Vertek could not wait and wanted to “overtake” his brother thus  the nickname “Vertek.”

In the women’s side, it’s almost the same story.  After Mary Joy Tabal there’s no female prospect in sight.  The best they could clock is 3 hours or even higher.  The women’s record is held by Paula Radcliffe who clocked 2:15:25 in the the 2003 London Marathon.  Somebody asked me of Tabal’s chances in the Jakarta Asian Games in August.  Well, she’s lucky if she lands in the top ten.  Remember, unlike the Sea Games, she has to compete with the Japanese, Chinese and Korean runners who could run under 2:30:00.  Tabal’s best is 2:43.

Did you know?

Chess originated in the Muslim world, not Russia, and came to England with the Normans.  Interestingly, the original Arabian version had no queen, because of Islamic attitudes towards women.  Instead the piece was called a “viziek or advisor” Bishops weren’t mullahs though, they were originally elephants.