Laoag City—It’s a strange setup, but Rafael Poliquit Jr. credits the guidance of a “friend and enemy” rolled into one when he won the 42nd National Milo Marathon title at the Laoag Centennial Arena here on Sunday.
The 29-year-old Poliquit took to heart the words of his friend, two-time Southeast Asian Games and reigning marathon Singaporean champion Soh Rui Yong as he reached the finish line in two hours, 28 minutes and 27 seconds in the local men’s division.
Yong, who had been chatting online with Poliquit before the race, told him to take every kilometer in less than 18 minutes.
Poliquit did just that.
The result was a new personal best time for the Filipino, who improved on his regular 2:32.00 clocking. So fast was Poliquit’s pace, that he even shattered Yong’s SEA Games’ record of 2:29:27 last year.
“Before the competition, kausap ko iyung friend kong si Yong, maganda ang mga advise niya. During competition kasi, lagi na lang ako fifth. Ngayon maayos ang prepration ko,” said Poliquit.
With Yong helping him figure out his game plan, Poliquit left behind a group of runners in the last 8 kilometers, allowing him to win his third straight men’s honors.
Cagayan de Oro City’s Jerald Zabala was second with a time of 2:31.25, followed by Richard Sallano (2:33.17).
Next year, though when the Philippines hosts the SEA Games, Poliquit will be challenged by the Yong.
By then, there will be no more friendly chats for advice from Yong.
Meanwhile, 29-year-old Mary Joy Tabal played it safe and slow and found no challengers when she won a record sixth straight championship in 2:56.31 in the local women’s action.
Tabal just allowed open winner Margaret Ngunguna of Kenya to take the lead, after she slowed down twice in unlit portions at the 15-km mark along the Paoay sand dunes near Ft. Ilocandia Hotel and Laoag-Paoay Road.
“There were challenges. But I finished the race safe and injury free,” said Tabal, who took the crowns in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
In beating Christabel Martes, who was second, and third-placer Christine Hallasgo, Tabal has become the winningest female long-distance runner in the tournament’s history, beating the record of Arsenia Sagaray, who has won the Milo titles in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1997.”‹
