Relay teams seal triumpth

Thailand underlined their supremacy on the last day of the SEA Games track and field competition in Vientiane yesterday, with the Kingdom's sprinters motoring to gold in the men's and women's 4x100m relays. Thais took 48 medals in all but missed their target of 15 track-and-field golds by just one.

Of the 12 up for grabs, Thailand dominated the day with four golds, while Malaysia took three and Vietnam two. The Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore shared one apiece.

In a thrilling men's 4x100m relay, the powerful foursome of Suppachai Chaimdee, Wachara Sondee, Sompote Suwannarangsri and Sitthichai Suwonpratheep couldn't better their 38.95 Games record but still scorched a 39.34-second win for a twelfth consecutive Thai title.

Singapore came home second in 39.82, with Indonesia, strengthened by 100m and 200m gold medallist Suryo Agung Wibowo, bronze medallists in 40.16.

Sitthichai revealed that the Thais had suffered a last-minute scare.

"The organisers brought the race forward half an hour to 1pm, which gave us hardly any time to warm up," he said. " The relief when we won the gold was huge."

Shortly after, the women's quartet of Jintara Siangdee, Phassorn Jaksunil, Laphassaporn Thaworncharoen and Nongnuch Sanrat extended their domination over Southeast Asian opposition by clocking 44.54 to retain their crown for the fourteenth time in a row.

In second just 0.28s behind were closest rivals Vietnam, anchored by the 100m and 200m gold medallist Vu Thi Huong. Indonesia scored a bronze with 45.32.

Thailand's two other golds came from Amornrat Winatho in the heptathlon and Treewadee Yongphan in the women's 400m.

Amornrat switched from sprinting duties and overcame an ankle injury to collect her sixth SEA Games title, with an aggregate 5,644 points.

"I met my target of two golds thanks to the team 4x400m relay and the heptathlon win," said Amornrat.

In the women's 400m, Treewadee surged 10m from the finish line to clinch a precious gold medal for Thailand with a time of 54.16. Malaysian Mohd Zafril took the men's 400m title in 47.11.

Vietnam made a clean sweep in the men's and women's 1,500m when Nguyen Dinh Cuong and Hang Truong Thanh successfully defended their men's and women's titles, clocking 3:46.58 and 4:19.48 respectively.

Indonesian Triyaningsih retained her crown in the women's 10,000m thanks to a new Games mark of 32:49.47 seconds.

Away from the track, Filipino Danilo Fresnido speared his javelin out to 72.93m to snatch the gold, while Thailand's Nontach Palanupat threw 67.68m to pick up silver and beat his compatriot and defending champion Sanya Buathong into third after his below-par 67.43m.

Malaysian pole vaulter Roslinda Samsu was in devastating form, retaining her title with a Games record of 4.15m. Team-mate Lee Hup Wei matched that effort in the men's high jump, keeping his crown after clearing 2.18m.

Singapore clinched the lone gold in the women's shot put when the Chinese-born Zhang Guirong retained her title after throwing 17.12m.