Five Philippine athletes shone bright on Sunday in the 2026 Tokyo Marathon and boosted their bids to qualify to the 2026 Asian Games.
Sonny Wagdos, Arlan Arbois, Richard Salaño, Artjoy Torregosa, and Christine Hallasgo submitted good times and surpassed the national standard when the marathon ended at Gyoko-dori Avenue in front of Tokyo Station.
Wagdos broke the previous 22-year-old national mark that was set by Eduardo Buenavista at 2:18:44, when he finished in 2:14:37. He dedicated his new record to his coach Buenavista.
Torregosa came in at 2:33:48 to rule the Semi-Elite Women’s Category, shattering the national record owned Olympian Mary Joy Tabal at 2:43:31, in the women’s side.
“Crossing the finish line and breaking the Philippine national record. You don’t need to rush just work for it, and the Lord will make it happen,” Torregosa said.
Hallasgo also went below Tabal’s time and was behind Torregosa at 2:42.
“The body achieves what the mind believes. Smashed my PB (personal best), and also broke the Philippine Record. In my age, I thought ‘di ko na kaya. But with you Lord, nothing impossible gyod,” said Hallasgo.
Arbois had a time of 2:19:57 and Salaño came in at 2:25:08 to claim personal bests as they also boosted their bids for the Asian Games.
The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association will decide on the two male and two female marathoners, who will represent the country in the Asian Games in the Aichi-Nagoya region of Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
