Marathoner Mary Joy Tabal gives PHL 1st gold medal in 2017 SEA Games

Filipina Olympian Mary Joy Tabal on Saturday delivered the Philippines' first gold medal in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia, after dominating the women's marathon.

Tabal, a native of Cebu, is the first Filipina marathoner to qualify for the Olympics. Tabal got the 124th place at the 2016 Rio Olympics for the women's marathon.

JUST IN: Mary Joy Tabal gives the first gold medal for the Philippines at the #SEAGames2017 for women's marathon.

— GMA News (@gmanews) August 19, 2017

The Palace commended the athlete for her achievement.

"So we congratulate Mary Joy Tabal for giving the Philippines its first gold medal with her performance in the women’s marathon at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia," Malacañang said in a statement read by China Jocson, assistant to the Presidential Spokesperson, on state-run Radyo Pilipinas on Saturday.

"Congratulations to our athletes and good luck to the rest of the Philippine team.  The whole nation is solidly behind you. Mabuhay po kayo!" the Palace continued.

The Philippines is currently in sixth place in the medal tally, with one gold medal, one silver medal, and two bronze medals in the 2017 SEA Games.

Olympic standard

Tabal won the silver medal in the 2015 SEA Games after winning the National Milo Marathon Finals for three consecutive years.

She left the national team due to conflicts with Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association last year, but she was reinstated following her qualification to Rio.

She beat the Olympic standard after clocking in 2 hours 43 minutes and 31 seconds in the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon in Canada. — Jamil Santos/MDM, GMA News