BASED on her current performance and training, Christine Hallasgo is primed and ready to defend her women’s marathon crown in the 31st Vietnam Southeast Asian Games, according to national coach Eduardo Buenavista.
“May malaking pag-asa ma-retain ni Christine ‘yung title niya. Maganda ang epekto ng training namin simula noong November pa,” Buenavista said yesterday from their training camp in Baguio during an online press conference organized by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association.
Himself a former SEA Games men’s marathon champion, Buenavista said Hallasgo’s training was even better than her buildup to the 2019 SEA Games where she emerged virtually from nowhere to stun erstwhile defending champion and compatriot Mary Joy Tabal.
“Sa workout and training namin compared sa 2019 SEA Games, mas maganda ngayon. Sa nakikita ko ko kapag mas maganda ang workout niya, sigurado mag-iimprove din ‘yung time niya sa SEA Games,” Buenavista said.
Given the high-altitude of Hanoi, which is similar to the conditions of their training camp in Baguio, Buenavista, a four-time SEA Games gold medalist, said he expects Hallasgo to surpass her winning time of two hours, 56 minutes and 56 seconds in the Philippine Games in 2019.
Buenavista, popularly known by his nickname “Vertek” to friends and peers, said they are looking at a Vietnamese marathoner as Hallasgo’s rival for the gold.
“Pero hindi naman magkalayo ‘yung time niya kay Christine,” said Buenavista, who said his ward was doing 2:52 in their practice runs for the 42.195-kilometer event.
