VIENTIANE – The Philippines won the men’s and women’s marathons at the Southeast Asian Games Tuesday to boost their medals haul. Eduardo Buenavista took the men’s race in two hours, 21 minutes and 10 seconds, finishing 46 seconds ahead of 2007 winner, Indonesia’s Yahuza, and Cambodia’s Hem Bunting took the bronze with a time of 2hr 25min 19sec.

The Cambodian top runner said he was not happy with the result and had hoped to improve on his silver in the event at the 2007 SEA Games. However, he could take consolation in the fact that he’d bettered his previous time. Compatriot Sean Sopheak finished back in ninth place.

Meanwhile in the women’s race, Jho-An Banayag took gold in 2hr 46min 34sec, edging out defending champion Sunisa Sailomyen of Thailand by 13 seconds, with Myanmar’s Ni Lar San in third place.

On a quiet day in track and field, Malaysia’s Tan Song Hwa won the women’s hammer throw with an SEA Games record of 56.41 metres, and Thailand’s Supanara Sukhasvasti Na Ayudhaya took gold in the men’s long jump.

Thailand are way out ahead in athletics medals with eight golds, 12 silvers and five bronzes, more than double that of their nearest rivals the Philippines.

AFP AND UNG CHAMROEUN