Filipino runners break Philippine records at Tokyo Marathon

Sonny Wagdos

(Sonny Wagdos via Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — As the saying goes, records are meant to be shattered.

The 22-year record of Olympian Eduardo Buenavista for marathon has been broken not by one, but two Filipino athletes in the Tokyo Marathon.

Sonny Wagdos and Richard San Luis Salano finished the 42.195 kilometer course with times of 2:14:32 and 2:15:08, respectively.

The two broke the record set by Buenavista in February 2004.

According to World Athletics, the national record for a full marathon was at 2:18:44, and was established by the two-time Olympian also in Japan during the Beppu-Oita Marathon.

But now, two athletes finished ahead of that mark.

Wagdos finished 58th in the marathon while Salano was at 68th.

Ethiopian long-distance runner Tadese Takele topped the race with a time of 2:03:37, followed by three Kenyans — Geoffry Toroitich (2:03:37), Alexander Mutisoa (2:03:38) and Daniel Mateiko (2:03:44).

Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris complete the top five with a time of 2:04:07.

Buenavista tipped his hat to both Wagdos and Salano in a Facebook post.

“May 2 atleta na break ang record ko sa marathon..salamat sa inyo.. Sonny at Richard,” he posted on social media.

Artjoy Torregosa and Christine Hallasgo also bested the nine-year national record of Mary Joy Tabal in Tokyo.

Torregosa finished with a time of 2:33:54, good for 26th place.

The pride of Agusan del Norte set the new national record, breaking Tabal’s previous record of 2:43:31 set during the Ottawa Marathon back in May 2016.

Hallasgo, for her part, tallied 2:42:13, good for 43rd.

Tabal also congratulated the athletes in a separate Facebook post.

Filipino athlete Arlan Arbois Jr. also came close to the record of Buenavista with a time of 2:19:56.