Tabal tops female open category in SilkAir Run

MARY Joy Tabal seems to be fully prepared for her upcoming stint in the National Milo Marathon next month.

The Cebu leg 21k champion Tabal showed this yesterday when she won the 20-kilometer race of the SilkAir Run that started and ended at The Terraces at the Ayala Center Cebu.

Tabal, who will represent Cebu in the national finals of the prestigious 42k race in Manila this Dec. 9, clocked 1 hour, 21 minutes and 37 seconds to rule the race.

Tabal has yet to win the national Milo title but came close twice as she finished third in both the 2010 and 2011 editions.

Merlita Arias Dunkin placed second in yesterday’s race held in line with SilkAir’s 20th anniversary with a time of 1:43.33 while Jinggay Lugay rounded off the top three with a time of 1:47.35.

Kenyans Josphat Kiptanui and Abraham Missous staged a lopsided performance in the men’s  side after finishing first and second, respectively.  Kiptanui clocked 1:08.57 while Missous finished in 1:11.55. Noel Tillor settled for third with a time of 1:12.08.

Francis Kakui also of Kenya ruled the 10k race with a time of 34:18 while Cristy Tutor placed first in the distaff side with a time of 44:29.

Jhean Andrin won the women’s 5k crown while  Robert Daang topped the men’s side. Irish Delechos and Ronnie Andrin topped the 3k race.

Proceeds of this race will help the Kapamilya Blood Donation Campaign of ABS-CBN in partnership with the Philippine National Red Cross.  /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL