New Clark City, Philippines (ANTARA) - Indonesia's top runner Agus Prayogo clinched a gold medal in the men's marathon event at the 2019 Southeast Asia (SEA) Games multi-sport competition, thereby becoming the first gold medalist in athletics for the national team.

Prayogo won the race by clocking a time of 2:26:48 after running for 42 kilometers at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium, here, today. When he nearly reached the finish line, Prayogo unfurled Indonesia's national red and white flag over his shoulders.

"I am beyond grateful on winning the gold medal, as it is my first gold in the men's marathon and for Indonesia's athletic team. I hope this victory would motivate other fellow athletes to grab more gold medals in the competition," Prayogo emphasized.


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Prayogo, a silver medallist in the 2017 SEA Games, highlighted that the running track was one of the top challenges in this year's race. "It was a concrete floor instead of asphalt, so the impact forces are higher while attempting to maintain the running pace," he expounded.

Apart from the running track, Prayogo stated that the heat and high humidity also posed challenges during the race. "We began running at 5:45 a.m. local time, and the sun was already up, and the heat was unbearable," Prayogo recalled.

Coming second after Prayogo was Thailand's Sanchai Namkhet, who reached the finish line 30 seconds later. Meanwhile, Malaysia's Muhaizar Mohamad completed the race five minutes and 50 seconds later and pocketed a bronze medal.

Another Indonesian runner Welman David Pasaribu came fourth, with a gap of six minutes and 59 seconds from Prayogo's finish time.

However, Indonesia's Odekta Elfina Naibaho was unable to win a medal in the women's marathon.


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Translator: Aditya E.S Wicaksono/Genta Ten
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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