REYNALD MAGALLON

ILAGAN CITY – The road to redemption for 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Christine Hallasgo continues.

The 30-year-old long distance runner showed her readiness to avenge her defeat in the 2021 SEAG in Hanoi by ruling the 10,000-meter run in runaway fashion in the ICSTI Philippine Athletics Championship here.

The hot 31 degrees celsius heat index at the City of Ilagan Complex failed to slow down the veteran PH team member as she clocked 36:38.54, bettering her personal best of 37:19.51.

Not only that, she also easily passed the SEAG criteria of 39:22.26.

Cebu City’s Art Joy Torregosa was a far second (40:09.20) and so was third placer Ailene Tolentino of Army (40:58.34).

The veteran runner has been on fire as of late after also resetting her personal best of 2:52:19 in the 42.195 kilometer distance in Tokyo just two weeks ago.

Hallasgo is set to run in the marathon and 10,000m run in this year’s edition of the SEAG.

“Hopeful po ako na yung preparation ko is magamit ko talaga sa laro tapos makapag recover ako after ng 42 para may lakas pa rin pagdating sa competition ng 10k,” said Hallasgo who is being fueled by his urge to do well for her family.

“Syempre po yung anak ko kasi ilang months din po ako nawalay sa kanya, yung pamilya ko na sumusuporta sa akin, ‘yung mga kababayan ko, yung coach ko na palaging gumagabay sa ensayo ko, sila po yung mga inspiration ko na bibigay ko po talaga yung makakaya ko,” said the Malaybalay, Bukidnon pride.

Meanwhile, Aira Teodosio who won the discus throw event on the first day of the competitions missed out on possibly claiming her second gold after only finishing third in shot put with a 12.36m heave.

Malaysia’s Nani Sahirah Maryata threw 14.69m to rule the event right on her first out-of-the-country competition while another national team member Jamela de Asis bagged the silver with 12.50m.

In the boys under-18 2000m steeplechase event, Almie Peter Aiso Jr. of Province of Leyte clocked 6:34.2 minutes to win the gold, followed by Pasig Teams Reyniel Abel (7:05.00l) and Ronsel Christian Borres (7:24.59).

In the distaff side, Liznie Delfino gave Bohol Province Track and Field team its first gold after recording 8:03.96 while Janice Nemi (8:15.41) and Marilou Caduyac (9:08.71) ended up with the silver and bronze medals respectively.