Indonesia rationalizes track-and-field golds<\/p>\n
By Ivy Susanti<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's ambition to regain eight golds from
\nthe track in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei
\nDarussalam next month will likely remain a dream as the
\norganizing committee will not feature the country's favorite
\ndisciplines.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association (PASI) secretary-
\ngeneral, Barmawi Chaidir, said several sports -- men's and
\nwomen's marathon, women's pole vault and women's discus -- which
\nwere Indonesia's favorites, would not be featured at the event.<\/p>\n
\"Unfortunately, the host country will not stage these
\ndisciplines although we thought we could steal some golds in
\nthem.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia won two golds from a marathon two years ago, thanks
\nto Eduardus Nabunome and Ruwiyati. Eduardus will run in the 5,000
\nmeters and 10,000 meters this time around, but Ruwiyati will skip
\nthe event due to her studies at a private university in Ungaran,
\nCentral Java.<\/p>\n
Indonesia won eight golds, eight silvers and 13 bronzes last
\ntime. Top position was Malaysia with 16 golds, seven silvers and
\nfive bronzes followed by Thailand with 15 golds, 19 silvers and
\nseven bronzes.<\/p>\n
A PASI official in technical commission, Paulus Lay, said
\nIndonesia would be able to win only five of the 41 golds at
\nstake.<\/p>\n
\"It would be a miracle if we can steal another one to make it
\nsix gold medals,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The five golds will likely come from Supriati Sutono, Ester
\nSumah and Nunung Jayadi. Another one is expected to come from
\nyoung starlet sprinter Irene Truitje Joseph.<\/p>\n
Supriati, the 1998 Asian Games gold medalist, will compete in
\nthe 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m disciplines. The Army sergeant
\nmade an incredible performance two years ago by winning all three
\ndisciplines and breaking three national records.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, Supriati has yet to reach her top form as she
\nonly clocked 16:49.00 in a two-day simulation at the Senayan
\nMadya stadium on April 30. She failed to perform in the second
\nsimulation on July 2 due to a light injury in her right thigh.<\/p>\n
However, PASI is optimistic that Supriati, who will compete in
\nthe World Championships in Sevilla, Spain, after the Games, will
\nbe able to run at the biennial event from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15. She
\nis expected to run below 15 minutes and 30 seconds in the 5,000m
\nto qualify for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.<\/p>\n
Teammate Ester Sumah, who won the gold in the women's 800m in
\n1997 by clocking 2:06.72, is another gold medalist hope for
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile 33-year-old Eduardus, nicknamed Edo, has to switch
\nfrom the marathon to the 5,000m and 10,000m to be able to join
\nthe squad.<\/p>\n
Two years ago, Edo earned a silver in the 10,000m and a gold
\nin a marathon. Second best Antonius Fallo followed in Edo's steps
\nto contribute a bronze in the 10,000m event.<\/p>\n
Men's pole vaulter Nunung won a silver in 1997 by jumping
\n4.60m. The gold went to teammate Handiarsin Oslan who jumped
\n4.80m. Nunung is a new hope to win a gold this year after he
\nmanaged to jump 5.00m. The 21-year-old athlete vowed to set a new
\nrecord of 5.20m in the Games.<\/p>\n
Young sprinter Irene will be a threat to Malaysian Shanti
\nGovindasamy as she managed to improve her personal best three
\ntimes in four months.<\/p>\n
She broke the 18-year-old national record in the women's 200m
\nby clocking 23.82 seconds on April 30. The old record of 24.24
\nseconds was set by Henny Maspaitella in Manila in 1981.<\/p>\n
Since then Irene has sharpened her personal best to 23.82
\nseconds early this month.<\/p>\n
But coach Pieter Noya said Irene must run below 23.60 if she
\nwants to beat Govindasamy.<\/p>\n
With only 11 athletes in the track and field squad, Indonesia
\nwill likely remain in third place on the track after Malaysia and
\nThailand.<\/p>\n
Long-term training at the Senayan Madya stadium for sprinters
\nand field events and at the Pengalengan tea plantation in West
\nJava for middle and long distance runners was proof that PASI
\nmade serious preparations for the biennial event. Hopefully,
\nIndonesia will be able to have new stars emerge from the Games.<\/p>\n
Athletics team members<\/p>\n
Men: Subakir (100m, 4x100m), Yanis Raubaba (200m, 4x100m), Wisnu
\nNugroho (4x100m, long jump substitute), Johanes Murray (100m,
\n400m, 4x100m), Mahmud Hamzah (100m, 4x100m), Eduardus Nabunome
\n(5,000m, 10,000m), Antonius Fallo (5,000m, 10,000m), Sutrisno
\n(20,000m walk), Handiarsin Oslan (pole vault), Nunung Jayadi
\n(pole vault), Ong Kok Hin (hammer throw), Sukhraj Singh (shot
\nput) and Ponsianus Kahol (javelin throw).<\/p>\n
Women: Irene Truitje Joseph (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Dedeh Erawati (100m
\nhurdles, 4x100m), Yolanda Wongso (200m, 4x100m, 4x400m), Santi
\nNelwan (100m hurdles, 4x100m, 4x400m), Atin Saputro (400m,
\n4x100m, 4x400m), Yanti Saputro (400m, 4x400m), Ester Sumah (800m,
\n4x400m), Supiati (2100m, 4x100m), Ani Suprapti (10,000m walk),
\nSupriyati Sutono (1,500m, 5,000m, 10,000m) and Ni Nyoman Rae
\nTrisandiana (long jump).<\/p>",
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