SOUTHEAST Asian Games veterans Christine Hallasgo and Richard Salano braved the rainy weather to come up with good podium finishes in the 21-km action last Sunday in the 30th Amazing Thailand Pattaya Marathon 2023.
The 30-year-old Hallasgo, who earned a bronze medal in the recent Cambodian meet, stayed behind Ethiopian Gebeyehu Adbaru from start to finish to settle for a silver medal.
Their times were close as Adbaru conquered the rolling and sloping terrain in one hour, 21 minutes and seven seconds.
Hallasgo was 17 seconds behind Adbaru for second place, followed by Ornanong Wongsorn of Thailand, in third at 1:26.09.
Lodkeo Inthakoumann landed fourth in 1:26.08, followed by Filipinas Nhea Ann Barcena and Cherry Andino in fourth and fifth, respectively.
“Malakas lang ang ulan, kaya basa kami habang tumatakbo. Nakikipag-agawan sa position iyung Ethiopian,” said Hallasgo, who came with a group of 39 runners supported by 7-Eleven and Jose C. Ang Jr., the managing director for eWallet and eCommerce and Head of General Merchandise Division.
Salano (1:12.04) made it to third place in the face of a strong challenge of Kenyan John Moriuri, who took the men’s division title in 1:09:40, followed by Thailand’s Sanchai Namkhet in 1:09:51.
“Malakas ang start nu’ng karera. Medyo uphill nu’ng first 5-kilometers. Pero, nakasabay ako dahil magandang warmup,” said Salano.
Overall route of the race covered the area of Pattaya City From North Pattaya Road, Pattaya Beach Road, Pattaya 2nd Road, Thappraya Road, Jomtien 2nd Road, Sukhumvit Road and Jomtien Beach Road.
The marathon, organized by the Thailand Tri League, had a 760,000 million thai baht (THB) or P1.2-million in prize money.