After colorful 2017, Tabal hungry for more in 2018

The year 2017 will be remembered by Mary Joy Tabal as one of the most colorful in her life.

Among the achievements of the 28-year-old, Barangay Guba, Cebu City native in 2017 was winning the first gold medal for the Philippines in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games women’s marathon in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and becoming the first marathoner in the country to score a five-peat win in the National Milo Marathon Grand Finals.

Before the SEA Games, Tabal became the first Asian marathoner to top the 21k race of the Scotia Bank Ottawa Marathon in Canada, logging a new Philippine 21k record of one hour, 18 minutes and 44 seconds. She eclipsed Mercidita Manipol Fetalvero’s time of 1:18.45 recorded by Patafa.

“2017 was a good year for me,” Tabal told Cebu Daily News. “I had three big accomplishments, the gold medal in Sea Games, the 21k record in Scotia Bank Ottawa Marathon and the five-peat win in Milo Marathon, and I am very thankful for that.”

The Cebuana Olympian has also had her share of tough times last year, none more tragic than the passing of her father, Rolando, a day before the National Milo Marathon race in Cebu in December.

Her father’s passing was one event in her life that would truly test her character. Tabal managed to fight through the pain and even made history by ruling the Milo race for the fifth straight time, something that has never been achieved before. She clocked 2:58.01.

“Despite the untimely passing of my father, I am very happy that I had an impressive performance in my career this year and I am hungry for more and the next years to come,” Tabal said.

Other obstacles Tabal encountered last year was her ouster from the National Team by the governing body for athletics in the country, the Philippines Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa).

Tabal, who was in Tuscany, Italy preparing for the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was surprised with the Patafa’s decision to exclude her from the official list of athletes competing for the biennial meet.

The issue reached the Congress after several Cebuano personalities backed Tabal’s reinstatement to the National Team. House Deputy Speaker Gwen Garcia, the Cebu City government headed by Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Ramon Fernandez were among Tabal’s strongest supporters aside from the thousands of netizens who showed their support in social media.

After being reinstated, Tabal proved to Patafa that it made a right decision in giving her a slot to the National Team as she won the first gold for the country in the Malaysia Games by ruling women’s marathon with a time of two hours, 48 minutes and 26 seconds.

For 2018, Tabal is looking to break her records in both the 42k and 21k. Aside from that, she is also aiming to represent the country in the 2019 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“I am hoping and praying for a good health and also that I can survive my training. I am very thankful to my sponsors for their continuing support and their trust and faith in me,” added Tabal.