MARY JOY Tabal, one of Cebu’s current top runners, cruised to the women’s 16-kilometer crown in the accident-marred 1st Timex Run yesterday in Cebu City.
Two Manila-based runners who joined the race were hit by a vehicle driven by an election official along N. Bacalso Avenue in barangay Mambaling.
Sandra Araullo Gonzales, 32, a former national triathlon women’s champion, and her husband, Peter, 42, both residents of Pasig City in Metro Manila, suffered multiple injuries and were brought to a private hospital.
The suspect was identified as lawyer Ferdinand Gujilde, 40, a former election officer of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities. He was detailed at the Cebu Provincial Office of the Commission on Elections.
“We did not expect that to happen because all of the marshals were in place,” said technical director Presing Capangpangan.
Meanwhile, Tabal finished the race in one hour, five minutes and five seconds while Kenyan Douglas Mwiti won the men’s race after crossing the finish line in 54 minutes and 50 seconds.
Tabal’s rival Mary Grace delos Santos ruled the 10-kilometer race with a time of 39 minutes and 52 seconds while Abraham Misous of Kenya topped the men’s side with a time of 34 minutes and five seconds.
Joeyry Lee claimed the second in the 16k distaff side with one hour 13 minutes and 29 seconds followed by Tabal’s teammate in the Ironman 70.3 Triathlon Amale Jopson at third spot with one hour 21 minutes and 16 seconds.
Davao’s Joebert Carolino and Cherry Andrin ruled the 5k distance with times of 17:00 and 20:52, respectively. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL