Story by REDintern Tan Wan Xin. Photos by Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports and Jerald Ang/Red Sports

SEA Games Athletics

Melvin Wong of Singapore in action during the men’s 10,000m final. He clocked a personal best of 32 minutes and 59.10 seconds. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

National Stadium, Wednesday, June 10, 2015 — In the men’s 10,000m final at the 28th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Singapore’s Melvin Wong clocked a time of 32 minutes 59.10 seconds to smash his personal best of 33:40.00.

Cheered on by the home crowd, Melvin powered ahead of Thammavongchith Sysavath (LAO) in the last lap after a close fight. He finished seventh out of eight competitors, just ahead of the Laotian.

On clocking a personal best time, he said he was “absolutely delighted”, especially after completing the men’s 5000m merely 24 hours before.

The race was won by Indonesia’s Agus Prayogo, who avenged his earlier loss to Vietnam’s Nguyen Van Lai in the men’s 5000m. He led from start to end, dominating a field that included marathon silver medallist Srisung Boonthung (THA), to finish in a time of 29:41.56.

Melvin was Singapore’s sole representative in the 10,000m, following SEA Games marathon champion Soh Rui Yong’s withdrawal. Soh had opted out of the race to focus on recovering from his earlier race.

10000 m results
1st: Agus Prayogo (INA) 29:41.56 (Season’s Best)
2nd: Srisung Boonthung (THA) 30:05.22 (SB)
3rd: Naing San (MYA) 30:26.23 (Personal Best)
4th: Do Quoc Luat (VIE) 30:48.95 (PB)
5th: Namkhet Sanchai (THA) 31:21.38
6th: Nguyen Van Lai (VIE) 32:25.43
7th: Wong Yan Hao Melvin (SIN) 32:59.10 (PB)
8th: Thammavongchith Sysavath (LAO) 33:02.86

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