There was no medal for the men’s 4x100m quartet but a new national record of 39.27s more than made up for the disappointment at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Friday.
The quartet of Muhammad Haikal, who came in for 100m gold medal winner Khairul Hafiz Jantan who is injured, Jonathan Nyepa, Badrul Hisyam and Nixson Kennedy was all smiles after the race won by Thailand.
On their to gold the Thai quartet of Kritsada Namsuwun, Bandit Chuangchai, Jirapong Meenapha and Jaran Sathoengram rewrote their own Games record of 38.95 set in 2007 in Nak Ratchasima with a new time of 38.90s.
Indonesia took the silver in 39.05s while the Philippines clinched the bronze with a time of 39.11s – ahead of fourth placed Malaysia.
“The national record was on our mind and a medal would have been a bonus for us,” said Haikal after the race.
“And it is great feeling to rewrite a national record. It does not matter that we failed to be on the podium. We are happy and pleased with what we achieved today the National Stadium.
“We are proud and it will spur the rest of the athletes. It is not all about winning medals…there is still joy and satisfaction to be part of the quartet that set a new national record.”
Malaysia’s previous national record of 39.62s was set in July in Vietnam. That quartet included Khairul Hafiz. Khairul injured his left thigh in the 100m final on Monday where he dethroned defending champion Eric Shauwn Cray of the Philippines.
The Filipino crashed into the Malaysian at the finish which saw Khairul take a tumble and landed on the track which left him with a muscle strain and a heavily strapped left thigh. The outcome of the fall was finishing fourth in the 200m when he was strongly tipped to clinch a sprint double.
“There is always another time to win and I guess we should be among the medal winners in the next Sea Games (in 2019, Philippines). We have the runners who should only get better and is age is with us,” said Badrul.
In the women’s 4x100m Malaysia (Azreen Nabila, Fathin Faqihah, Siti Fatimah, Zaidatul Husniah) finished last with a time of 45.39s.
Vietnam blazed to a new Sea Games record and a historic gold in 43.88s which left the Thai girls crying unashamedly. This is Vietnam’s first gold in the event.
The Thais, who won the gold in Singapore in 2015 could only manage a silver today, clocking 44.62s for their second place finish. Thailand also held the previous Sea Games record of 44.00s set in Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar) in 2013
The bronze went to the Philippines (44.81s) – powered by Richardson twins Kayla and Kyla who are based in California, United States and study in the University of California.
This is their second Sea Games.
RESULTS
4x100m
MEN
1. Thailand 38.90s
2. Indonesia 39.05s
3. Philippines 39.11
WOMEN
1. Vietnam 43.88s
2. Thailand 44.62s
3. Philippines 44.81s
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