Recently crowned Southeast Asian Games marathon champion Christine Hallasgo is getting ready to see action again.
After spending months in lockdown in her home province, Hallasgo will fly to Singapore in the first week of December to take part in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon.
Seeking to get past the Olympic qualification time of two hours, 29 minutes and 30 seconds will be her goal when she takes part on Dec. 6.
Philippine Athletic Track and Field Association chief Philip Ella Juico confirmed this yesterday in a huddle with scribes on Zoom during the weekly program of TOPS Usapang Sports.
“Inaantay na lang namin ang kanilang rules and regulations, and protocols that will be observed by the organizers,” said Juico.
Since August, Hallasgo has been adjusting to difficulties after she got back to training in her hometown in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.
There is no track oval in her hometown, but Hallasgo she is still able to do daily running activities.
Hallasgo’s brother is joining her whenever she goes out to run along an isolated roadway in Malaybalay.
Juico said Hallasgo has a great chance among Philippine-based athletes to make podium finishes and make podium finishes in the SEA Games, and the Olympics.
Last December, Hallasgo clocked 2:56.56 in winning the women’s marathon event of the 2019 SEA Games.
Since they are not going into crowded areas, Hallasgo said she is able to run without a face mask.
Last June, Hallasgo returned home after spending two weeks in quarantine in Metro Manila.
Since then, she is being guided online by his coach Eduardo Buenavista on how restart her efforts on endurance activities.
Hallasgo went through an ordeal in going back home in Bukidnon.
She was supposed to return home on March 16, a day after the enhanced Luzon-wide lockdown was imposed.
That was when she got stranded after being unable to get a flight from the Clark International Airport in Pampanga. Peter Atencio
Luckily, the Philippine Sports Commission found out about her situation, and provided her a place to stay at Philsports facilities in Pasig.
The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon is an iconic national running event that is on Singapore’s sporting calendar.
It is held every first Sunday of December, tens of thousands of participants from all over the world.
People from all walks of life run past some of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks like the Marina Bay Sands, Garden by the Bay and the Esplanade.
It is the only International Association of Athletics Federation- Gold Labelled race in the region.
The event has been recognized for bringing participants an unparalleled running experience with its world-class excellence in global sporting significance.
