Cebuana Mary Joy Tabal competes in women’s marathon in the Rio Olympics today. (CDN FILE)
Cebuana Tabal competes in women’s marathon of Rio Olympics today
With some of the world’s best women’s marathoners seeing action today, Cebuana Mary Joy Tabal knows her chances of winning or even just landing a podium spot Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is as tough as it could be.
But the 27-year-old petite runner from Barangay Guba, Cebu City, isn’t backing down from this challenge, especially as she tries to make a good impression in her first stint in the quadrennial sporting meet.
Tabal, the first-ever Filipina to qualify for women’s marathon in the Olympics, sees action in women’s marathon’s at 8:30 p.m. Philippine time, which is at 9 a.m. in Rio de Janeiro.
With the superstar cast she is about to face, Tabal admitted she feels nervous although she is trying her best not to think too much about the race so she could be more focused.
“I just want to be able to do my best to make my country proud,” said Tabal, who made it to the Olympics through her stint in the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon last May in Canada.
Tabal aside from the vaunted Kenyan and Ethiopian marathoners, other top contenders include participants from the USA, Uganda, North Korea, China and Japan.
“I just have to focus on my race. I am here to give my best. I just have to run my own race and everything will follow,” Tabal said. “It’s better that I think less so that the pressure is lesser.”
Tabal is one of just a few Filipinos left fighting in the Olympics. The others are long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang, hurdles bet Eric Cray and taekwondo’s Kirstie Elaine Alora.
All are hoping to duplicate the feat of Hidilyn Diaz, who snatched a silver for the Philippines in weightlifting competition.
“I am here to make things happen. I am here to proudly represent our country,” Tabal said.
Torres-Sunang and Cray compete on Aug. 17 while Alora fights on Aug. 21, the final day of the quadrennial event.
Meanwhile, Motor Ace Philippines president and Motor Ace-Kawasaki Racing team captain Jonel Borromeo, said that no matter what the outcome will be for their prized ward, they are already satisfied with what she has accomplished so far.
“Qualifying for the Olympics is already mission accomplished. Podium will just be the icing on the cake,” said Borromeo, who is responsible for Tabal’s training in Japan that prepared her for the Olympic qualifying races she joined.