ABELLA RULES 7-ELEVEN 42K DESPITE A TIGHT SCHEDULE
Despite joining fifth longdistance running event in just five weeks, reigning Cebu Marathon champion registers personal best in topping 7-Eleven 42K
One of Cebu’s top marathoners, Rafael Pescos, continues to be a model of durability as he set a personal best in the 7-Eleven Run Series-Cebu leg in the Cebu Business Park yesterday.
Pescos, the ace runner of Spectrum Runners Club, ran his fifth long-distance race in only five weeks and showed no signs of slowing down.
He clocked 2 hours, 37 minutes and 39 seconds and was the first Filipino to finish the men’s 42-kilometer race, right behind Kenyan Joseph Mururi, who clocked 2:36:16.
Azlan Pagay finished second among the Filipino runners with a time of 2:47:15, while Paul James Zafico got third place in 2:52:46.
“This race was really my target because I wanted to compete in an international marathon,” said the 24-year-old Pescos, who erased his previous best 2:39:40.
In the last five weeks, Pescos won the 50K race in the Speed 50 and the 42K category of 2018 Cebu Marathon. He also placed second in the Lacastellana Marathon and Baybay City Marathon.
The three Filipino male and female runners in the 42K and 21K categories who registered the best times among the three legs— Cebu, Davao and Manila—will be sent to an international marathon in Asia.
“I’m glad that I have accomplished my target,” said Pescos. “We have contacted other runners in Manila and Davao and they said my time was the best out of the winners in the three legs.”
Pescos also qualified last year and was sent to Danang International Marathon in Vietnam, where he finished at second place.
Lizane Abella, also from Spectrum Runners Club, won the women’s 42K race in a dominating fashion after crossing the finish line in 3:20:06, more than 18 minutes ahead from the closest pursuers.
Marie Stephan Jayson finished second in 3:39:57 and Ivy Christine Muscosa was third with 4:11:33.
“I wasn’t able to really prepare for this, in fact, my training was for a 21K race because I have a tight schedule at work, and despite that, I am grateful that I was able to lead all the way,” said the 29-year-old Abella.
On the other hand, Olympian Mary Joy Tabal marked her return on the road after two months with a win in the women’s 21K. The 29th Southeast Asian (Sea) Games gold medalist clocked 1:23:07.
Ruffa Sorongon finished at second place with 1:27:57, while Aileen Tolentino came in 1:30:31 for third place.
“Joining this race is more of a test on my fitness because I skipped a month of my training following my father’s death. I just got back on my regular training last month,” said Tabal, whose father died 22 hours before winning her fifth straight title in the Milo Marathon Finals two months ago.
“This is a good start for me this year though my time is not that good but I’m still very happy,” added Tabal, who’s preparing for the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia on Aug. 18 to Sept. 2.
Gil Abad, the 7-Eleven Regional head for Visayas operations, said that as a first-timer in Cebu, the run got a huge support with 6,500 registered participants.
“I am hopeful na masundan pa itong event na ‘to, it will all depend on the management’s decision. But with the success of the event, I’m sure there will be another 7-Eleven Run in Cebu,” he said.