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Published on December 8, 2007

 Five records tumbled on the opening day of the track-and-field events yesterday, as Thai athletes brought the home crowd to their feet by capturing the lion's share of six golds out of nine at stake, including three new standards.

Wassana Wi-natho got the hosts off to a flying start with her start-to-finish victory to retain her crown in the women's 400m hurdles event with a 57.21 seconds finish. After crossing the finish line, she collapsed and was carried out for first-aid.

"I'm glad to win the first athletics gold for Thailand, but I'm not that happy with the timing," said Wassana, who will compete in two more events - 4x400m relay and heptathlon. "I had a headache after crossing the finish line. This might have been because of the scorching sun as well as the cold winds," said the 27-year-old Kanchanaburi native.

Thailand bagged a one-two finish in the men's shot put. Reigning champ Chatchawal Polyemg set the stadium alight with his exceptional record-breaking performance, out-throwing the opposition with mighty heaves of 17.43m to erase the 17.28m established by Singaporean Dong Enxin in 2003 in Hanoi.

Compatriot Sarayudh Pinitjit finished second after covering 16.99m, with Filipino Eliezer Sunang in third place with a throw of 15.62m.

In the men's triple jump,title-holder Theerayut Philakong of Thailand eclipsed the 16.37m by countryman Nattapon Namkunha in Kuala Lumpur in 2001 to set a  record of 16.44m. Team-mate Kittisak Sukon picked up the silver after jumping 16.21m, with Filipino Jobert Delicana in third place.

 Javelin thrower Buaban Pamang also proved she was the pick of the bunch yesterday. After winning gold medals in three major events - last year's Asian Games in Doha, the Asian Championships and the World Universiade in August - the 20-year-old from Chiang Rai made quite an impact in her fourth SEA Games.

Buaban broke her previous Games record of 55.06m set two years ago in Manila to set the new standard at 55.97m to win the gold medal - her fourth Games win in a row.

The Kingdom also gained two more gold medals, one from Boonthung Srisung, who made it three in a row in the men's 5,000m with a time of 14.18.03 minutes and the other from Apisit Kuttiyawan in the men's 400m hurdles, who finished in 50.38 seconds. The visitors claimed the remaining three gold medals yesterday, with Vietnamese Thanh Hang Truong shattering her  1,500m record of 4.18.50 minutes set in Manila to establish the new standard of 4.11.60.

Meanwhile, Thailand had a major setback when defending 100m champion Watchara Sondee was relegated to second place by Suryo Agung Wibowo from Indonesia.

Wibowo blasted off the blocks in the 100m final with a record-shattering effort of 10.25 seconds, erasing the previous standard of now-retired Thai sprinter Rienchai Seehawong by 0.01 second.

An upset of sorts for Thai fans was also witnessed in the women's 100m after defending champion Vu Thi Huong edged local best Nongnuch Sanrat. Vu clocked the fastest time of 11.47 seconds, while Nongnuch was just 0.09 second behind to come in second. Irene Joseph from Indonesia finished third in 11.77.

Preechachan Wiriyanupappong

 The Nation

Nakhon Ratchasima