In memory of Rafael Poliquit Jr.
Cebuana runner Mary Joy Tabal will dedicate her title defense to Poliquit when she goes for her third crown in the women’s marathon competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian Games this Friday.
The 30-year old Tabal said the hard work Poliquit put up to prepare for the Games before he passed away last April is among her inspirations.
“Yes. He will be part of this. We will run for Pol also. This is his dream,” said Tabal, as she prepares for action, which starts at 6 a.m. at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac this Friday.
Tabal and Poliquit earned slots to the national team for the SEA Games last December when they won the women’s and men’s crowns of the 42nd Milo Marathon national finals.
While Tabal went on to train in Japan, Poliquit passed away due to complications from subdural empyema last April.
During that time, Poliquit had been in communication with two-time marathon champion Soh Rui Yong of Singapore, and had sought his advice on how the two will compete better together
But, Soh won’t be defending the men’s crown for the third time.
Singapore’s National Olympic Committee has turned down Singapore Athletics’ nomination for Soh to be part of the national delegation.
Issues concerning attitude was the reason why the SNOC won’t let Soh join.
Because of this, Soh will take part as a coach, and will handle young long distance runner Gordon Lim.
For the Philippine side, Jerald Zabala, and Anthony Nerza, will be around to take the place of Poliquit.
In the absence of Soh, the men’s crown will a two-way fight between 2017 silver medallist Agus Prayogo of Indonesia and Mohaizar bin Mohamad of Malaysia, who claimed the bronze the last time around.
This time, Mohamad is favored to take the gold after shaving five seconds of his bronze medal time of 2:31.52, with a better 2:26.42 during the Gold Coast Marathon last July.
And, challenge will come from New Zealand-born Thai runner Tony Payne, who holds the best time this season, with a 2:20:54 clocked at the Riga Marathon in Latvia last May.
As for Tabal, she will be watching for two Vietnamese who could challenge her if they are fielded in.
There’s Le Pham Thi Hong, who took the silver back in 2017, and has a season’s best time of 2:52.14.
Then there’s Thi Hue Pham, who has a personal best of 2:54.31.
But, there is still doubt if Thi will be fielded in, since her specialty in the 5,000-meter run and the 10,000 meter run.
Aside from her mentor John Philip Duenas, two other coaches in Japan are helping Tabal get ready for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
She is also getting inputs from Japanese mentors Yuhei Sato and Akio Usami at the Nippon Sports Science University, where Tabal went to train last September 4.
