Hallasgo resets personal best, reaches SEAG standard in 10k run
Published Mar 23, 2023 06:32 am
ILAGAN CITY – The road to redemption for 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Christine Hallasgo continues.
*Christine Hallasgo rules the 10,000-meter run in the National Open in Ilagan City. (MB File Photo)*
After losing the gold medal in the 2021 SEAG in Hanoi in her pet event, the 42-kilometer marathon, the 30-year-old long distance runner is coming in strong for this year’s meet after recording her personal best and reaching the biennial meet’s standard when she copped the gold medal in the 10,000-meter run in the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championship here. With the heat index giving the athletes the burning sensation at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex, Hallasgo punched through like a wind when she ran away with the top honors in 36 minutes and 38.54 seconds to beat Cebu City’s Art Joy Torregosa and Philippine Army’s Ailene Tolentino. She broke her previous best of 37:19.51 and eclipsed the silver medal standard of 38:22.01 set by a Burmese runner and less than a minute from the golden mark of the Vietnamese champion at 35:56.38 More impressive, she was almost four minutes clear of closest pursuers Torregosa (40:09.20) and Tolentino (40:58.34). The victory should be a huge confidence builder for Hallasgo who is setting her eyes on reclaiming the gold medal in the SEAG. 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 her 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 mint, followed by Pasig Teams Reyniel Abel (7:05.00) and Ronsel Christian Borres (7:24.59). On 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.
*Christine Hallasgo rules the 10,000-meter run in the National Open in Ilagan City. (MB File Photo)*
After losing the gold medal in the 2021 SEAG in Hanoi in her pet event, the 42-kilometer marathon, the 30-year-old long distance runner is coming in strong for this year’s meet after recording her personal best and reaching the biennial meet’s standard when she copped the gold medal in the 10,000-meter run in the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championship here. With the heat index giving the athletes the burning sensation at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex, Hallasgo punched through like a wind when she ran away with the top honors in 36 minutes and 38.54 seconds to beat Cebu City’s Art Joy Torregosa and Philippine Army’s Ailene Tolentino. She broke her previous best of 37:19.51 and eclipsed the silver medal standard of 38:22.01 set by a Burmese runner and less than a minute from the golden mark of the Vietnamese champion at 35:56.38 More impressive, she was almost four minutes clear of closest pursuers Torregosa (40:09.20) and Tolentino (40:58.34). The victory should be a huge confidence builder for Hallasgo who is setting her eyes on reclaiming the gold medal in the SEAG. 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 her 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 mint, followed by Pasig Teams Reyniel Abel (7:05.00) and Ronsel Christian Borres (7:24.59). On 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.