The flat roads inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone will serve as the new venue of the marathon event of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
An ocular inspection has started this week after technical officials made a survey on the undulating course in Capas, Tarlac, which was earlier presented by organizers.
Philippine SEA Games organizing committee executive Tom Carrasco said the layout of the original course in Tarlac was rejected.
“The options for the new race will be submitted to the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association after the November holidays,” said Carrasco.
In the proposed layout, the last 10 kilometers of the race will end up in a 2.4-kilometer route around the parade grounds.
Competition manager Jeannette Obiena will help the PATAFA evaluate the proposed route.
The last part of the route, according to Carrasco, is expected to attract a large number of spectators.
The men’s and women’s marathon events are scheduled on Dec. 6.
Two-time marathon champion Soh Rui Yong of Singapore won’t be defending the men’s crown for the third time.
Singapore’s National Olympic Committee has turned down Singapore Athletics’ nomination for Soh to be part of the national delegation.
The SNOC explained in a statement that “since the 2017 SEA Games, there have been numerous instances where Soh has displayed conduct that falls short of the standards of attitude and behaviour that the SNOC expects of and holds its athletes to, considering that they are held up and seen as representatives of the country and as examples to our sporting youth.”
The PATAFA is fielding in Jerald Zabala, and Anthony Nerza, who took the place of Rafael Poliquit Jr., who passed away last March while preparing for the Games and after contracting an illness.
Cebuana runner Mary Joy Tabal, who is training in Japan, will go for her second crown in the women’s division.
Carrasco added that the venues around the SBMA are 99 percent ready.
Modern pentathlon, triathlon and duathlon will be held at the Boardwalk, while All Hands Beach will play host to open water swimming.
A temporary facility for shotgun competitions have also been put up, while the tennis courts will be used for beach volleyball and beach handball.