Indonesia yesterday took gold in the men’s and women’s marathons, as the Southeast Asian Games took over Cambodia’s ancient royal enclave of Angkor Wat.
It might not have the star power of a World Championships or the illustriousness of the Olympics, but the SEA Games boasts one of the best marathon backdrops.
Far from the main host city of the capital, Phnom Penh, the sprawling temple complex of Angkor Wat — former capital of the Khmer Empire — was the venue for the marathon and 20km walk events.
Photo: AFP
The starting gun fired just after sunrise. Runners powered past ancient temples and stupas, and through weathered arches before finishing in front of the famed main temple, an image so important to Cambodians that it is on the national flag.
On the first day of the Games’ full schedule, Indonesia’s Agus Prayogo won the men’s marathon in a time of 2 hours, 32 minutes, 59 seconds — his country’s first gold of the event — while Arlan Estobo Arbois of the Philippines took silver and Vietnam’s Nguyen Thanh Hoang took bronze.
The women’s event winner was also Indonesian, with Odekta Elvina Naibaho finishing in 2 hours, 48 minutes, 14 seconds. Thi Tuyet Le from Vietnam was just over 1 minute behind her to claim silver, while bronze went to Christine Organiza Hallasgo of the Philippines.
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