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

SEA Games athletics 5000m

Melvin Wong of Singapore in action. He clocked a timing of 16:01.58 to finish seventh. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

Singapore National Stadium, Tuesday, June 9, 2015 — Melvin Wong and Jeevaneesh Soundararajah of Singapore, cheered on by a partisan home crowd which packed the grandstands, finished seventh and eighth in 16 minutes 01.58 seconds and 16:14.75 respectively in the 5000m final at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Nguyen Van Lai of Vietnam won gold in a new Games record of 14:04.82.

The instant the starting gun was fired, the leading pack, led by Agus Prayogo of Indonesia and defending champion Nguyen Van Lai of Vietnam, peeled off from the rest of the field. Melvin and Jeevaneesh started conservatively at the back.

The runners eventually settled into a steady pace, with Melvin overtaking Ma Viro of Cambodia at the beginning of the fourth lap, while Jeevaneesh gradually clawed his way up the field, overtaking two runners to sit directly behind Melvin.

When the bell rang to signal the last lap, Nguyen made his move, outpacing race leader Prayogo, and finished strongly to win the gold.

Melvin and Jeevaneesh maintained their positions and eventually finished seventh and eighth, after a tense final lap that saw Jeevaneesh fending off a late move by Ma Viro.

5000m Results
1st Nguyen Van Lai (VIE) – 14:04.82 (Games Record)
2nd Agus Prayogo (IND) – 14:15.14 (Season’s Best)
3rd Sanchai Namkhet (THA) 14:40.59 (Personal Best)
4th Do Quoc Luat (VIE) – 14:56.00
5th Nattawut Innum (THA) – 14:57.55 (PB)
6th Naing San (MYA) – 15:13.83 (SB)
7th Melvin Wong (SIN) – 16:01.58
8th Jeevaneesh Soundararajah (SIN) – 16:14.75
9th Ma Viro (CAM) – 16:18.80
10th Phan Sopeak (CAM) – 16:44.38

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