CEBU, Philippines – Cebuana long distance running star Mary Joy Tabal felt every inch a winner as she placed 12th in her class and 87th overall among 21,000-plus entries in the Aasics LA Marathon yesterday in Los Angeles, California.
The 25-year-old Tabal finished the grueling 42.195-kilometer race in two hours, 51 minutes and 17 seconds to barge into the top 12 in the women's 25-29 age group and 87th overall.
Tabal, the country's reigning marathon queen and record-holder, was doubly happy as she improved her performance in last year's Paris Marathon wherein she clocked in only 2:57:28.
Tabal's fellow countryman Rafael Poliquit also fared well in the men's division, finishing 33rd in his age bracket with the time of 2:36:09.