Teen sprint sensation Puripol smashes another SEA Games record with 200m gold

Thailand’s sprinting star Puripol Boonson continued his record-breaking exploits at the ongoing 33rd SEA Games on home soil with a sparkling triumph in the men’s 200m race at Supachalasai Stadium on Saturday evening.

The prodigious teenager caused a major stir following his record-breaking victory in the men’s 100m event on Thursday, which sent reverberations not only around the country but also across the world.

His official winning time of exactly 10.00 seconds shattered the Games’ 16-year-old record of 10.17 seconds set by Indonesia’s Suryo Agung Wibowo.

On top of that, the 9.94-second dash he clocked in the preliminary round — his first-ever sub-10 second run — was officially endorsed by the sport’s governing body, World Athletics, making him the fifth-fastest under-20 athlete in history.

Such mind-blowing exploits further amplified the buzz surrounding the teenage sensation, who has become the poster boy of Thai athletics since capping his Games debut with triple sprint crowns at the Covid-delayed edition in Vietnam three years ago.

Puripol’s heroics on Thursday drew a far bigger crowd to the ageing venue in the heart of the Thai capital, with home fans clamouring to watch the Surin native create another piece of history.

The teenager did not disappoint, producing another sizzling dash to cross the line first in 20.07 seconds, smashing the Games’ previous mark of 20.37 seconds, which he himself set in Hanoi.

The winning time also became his new personal best, eclipsing the 20.19 seconds he had recorded previously.

“I’m so happy and excited at the same time. I felt even more excited competing in the 200m because of the longer distance,” said Puripol. “It’s a pity that I missed out on achieving a sub-20-second run, but it’s okay. I’ll try to achieve that feat in the future.”

The 19-year-old credited his double success to his American coach, Gentry Bradley.

“I’ve performed better since he helped fine-tune several technical aspects,” Puripol said. “We haven’t worked together for long, but he has made a real difference.”

Earlier in the day, Thai-American runner Kieran Tuntivate, another Thai athletics star, shared the spotlight by producing an equally impressive display in the men’s 5,000m to clinch his second title at the home Games.

Photo: Kieran Tanvivate

The 28-year-old strategically maintained his pace within the chasing pack for most of the race. Entering the final lap, the home runner hit full throttle before coasting to victory in 14:46.38.

Kieran’s 5,000m win followed his successful defence of the men’s 1,500m title on Thursday, when he clocked 3:47.50 — a significant improvement on the 3:58.51 he recorded when winning in Cambodia two years ago.

The double success equalled his achievement in Phnom Penh and left him with a chance to go one better, with the men’s 10,000m still to come — an event he previously won at the 2019 Games in the Philippines.

Thai success also extended to the field events, with Jariya Wichaidit successfully defending her title in the women’s javelin throw with an impressive effort of 55.64 metres.

In the women’s triple jump, defending champion Parinya Chuaimaroeng was dethroned after being pipped to the title by Indonesia’s Maria Natalia Londa.

Thongchai Silamool had to settle for silver in the men’s shot put with a throw of 16.80 metres, finishing behind Malaysia’s Jonah Chang, who won gold with 18.78 metres.