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Published on December 9, 2007

An impressive women's quartet, powered by Wassana Winatho, captured the lone gold for Thailand on what turned out to be a poor day for the hosts, as Vietnam reigned supreme on the second day of the 24th SEA Games athletics competition.

 Four records fell yesterday, all to the visitors. A large crowd of over 4,000 fans cheered  at His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium.

The 27-year-old Wassana from Kanchanaburi, who won her first gold in the 400m hurdles the previous day, spearheaded a women's foursome which included Saowalee Kaewchuay, Kunya Harnthong and Treewadee Yongphan to win the women's 4x400m relay with an impressive time of 3 minutes 38.26 seconds, relegating reigning champions Burma to second place in 3:40.60. Vietnam finished third in 3:43.90.

However, shortly after crossing the finish line, the unfit Wassana collapsed and had to be carried out of the stadium.  "I'm more than happy to win this gold. In the previous Games, we had a hard-fought contest against Burma and lost in a close finish. This time we left them far behind," Saowalee said.

Vietnam's four gold medals came from the women's high jump, decathlon and a clean sweep of both men's and women's 800m. Defending champ and record-holder Bui Thi Nhung leaped 1.88m for gold. She attempted to jump 1.91m, a new Games standard, which would have earned her a place in next year's Beijing Olympics, but she could not jump that high.

Thai Noeng-Ruthai Chaipech, the bronze medallist in Manila who scaled 1.91m in the recent Asian Indoor Games to book an Olympics berth, picked up the silver with a jump of 1.86m. Another Thai, Wanida Boonwan jumped 1.84m to take home the bronze.

Vietnam had a one-two finish in the women's 800m, with Hang Truong Thanh crossing the finish line with a new record of 2:02.39 and Vu Thi Trang a close second in 2:06.71.

Vietnamese Nguyen Dinh Cuong stormed home first in the men's 800m in 1:52.16, with Filipino Midel Dique just 0.56 second behind. Malaysian Jironi Ridzuan Mohammad came in third in 1.53.30 minutes.

In decathlon, title-holder Vu Van Huyen was no stranger to the record books as he collected 7,457 points, bettering the previous record of 7,318 points established by Thai David Yimsamruay in Jakarta in 1997. Thai Boonket Chalon finished second with 6,921 points.

In the men's hammer throw, Filipino Arriel Ferera made it three times in a row with a new Games mark of 60.98m. Thailand's Tantipong Phetchaiya and Yongjaros Kanju came second and third places with 56.47m and 53.57m respectively. Filipina Torres Marestella retained her crown in the women's long jump with a leap of 6.31m. Thai Titima Muangjan came in second after jumping 6.25m, with Malaysian Sin Mei Ngew in third with a jump of 6.08m.

Filipino Rene Herrera remained unbeatable in the 3,000 steeplechase as finished first in 8:54.21. Thai Patikarn Pechsricha settled for silver in 9:02.48.

 Indonesian Triyaningsih set a new Games record in the women's 5,000m in a time of 15:54.32 , while team-mate Rini Budiarti picked up the silver in 16:08.00. Dwi Ratanawati got Indonesia their second gold with her 50.05m discus throw. Three-time champion Juthaporn Krasaeyan of Thailand had to settle for second place with her throw of 49.46m.

Malaysia won a rare gold in the men's 4x400m relay in 3:07.95 , leaving a Thai quartet second and the Philippines third.

Preechachan  Wiriyanupappong

The Nation

Nakhon Ratchasima