Indonesia rules marathon race at SEA Games<\/p>\n
By Dwiatmanta<\/p>\n
CHIANG MAI, Thailand (JP): Two marathon gold medals went into
\nIndonesia's coffers at the 18th Southeast Asian Games in a day
\nwhich saw a record-breaking spree in the track and field
\ncompetition yesterday.<\/p>\n
Suyono and Ruwiyati triumphed in the men's and women's
\nmarathon respectively in new Games best times to mark Indonesia's
\nresurgence in athletics events.<\/p>\n
Suyono clocked two hours, 21 minutes and two seconds to put
\nhimself on the record-breakers list for the Dec. 9-17 Games. The
\n28-year-old East Javanese shaved more than two minutes off the
\nold mark, set by Herman Suizo of the Philippines.<\/p>\n
Indonesia confirmed its total control in the long-distance
\nrace, with Ethel Hadson coming second in the record-breaking time
\nof 2:21:22 for the silver. Roy Vence of the Philippines took the
\nbronze in 2:21:51.<\/p>\n
There was no big surprise in the women's marathon when
\ntalented Ruwiyati sped to the gold medal in 2:34:29, smashing the
\nsix-year-old record of 2:45:43 set by compatriot Suryati Marija
\nin Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
The marathon is the only track and field event competed
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian couple's superb performance yesterday took the
\ntally of new records to eight in the morning, after four days of
\ncompetition.<\/p>\n
Another record was set in the SEA Games marathon this year
\nwhen Ruwiyati and her six challengers were timed under Suryati's
\nbest time.<\/p>\n
Half of the eight finishers in the men's marathon also
\nsurpassed the old record. However, it was an unlucky day for
\nveteran Suizo as he was forced to pull out of the race after the
\n23-kilometer mark.<\/p>\n
Indonesian track and field team manager Pieter Noya said
\nSuyono's victory surprised him. \"We never expected our athlete to
\nwin the men's marathon gold due to the daunting challenges from
\nSuizo and alike,\" Noya said.<\/p>\n
But Noya, who is also the national track and field coach, was
\nnot too pleased with his trainees' times. \"They would have done
\nbetter if they had managed to run constantly in the first half,\"
\nNoya said. Both Ruwiyati and Suyono won the Malang International
\nMarathon in East Java last April.<\/p>\n
Breakaway<\/p>\n
Suyono joined the pack from the start, before he attempted a
\nbreakaway after 20km. With Suizo giving up, Ethel and Rameshon
\nclosely marked the East Javanese runner until the 35th km of the
\nrace.<\/p>\n
A consistent Suyono sped up his pace to break away from the
\npack, leaving only Ethel his closest checker in the final two
\nkilometers. Ethel crossed the finish line at the Lamphoon stadium
\njust eight hundredths of a second away from Suyono.<\/p>\n
Ruwiyati kept the lead of the small pack of runners who were
\ncompleting the 42.125-km route in Lamphoon, about 30 kilometers
\nnorth of here, under a close marking of Singaporean Yvonne Tan
\nDanson.<\/p>\n
The 18-year-old Indonesian, however, showed her mastery in the
\nfinal sprint. Ruwiyati quickly sprinted into a 2,00m clear in the
\nlast-ditch duel. A tired-looking Danson, who also ran in 10,000m
\non Tuesday, failed to keep up with Ruwiyati's cool pace.<\/p>\n
Coach Noya said the double victories would revive Indonesia's
\nbid for 11 golds in the biennial event. \"It will be difficult to
\nmeet such a target, but we hope to win at least five more,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The men's long jump, men's triple jump, men's 1,500m,
\nheptathlon and women's 800m are all that Noya expected to add to
\nIndonesia's modest gold medals collection of four.<\/p>\n
Thailand is leading the medal race in track and field with 14
\ngolds. The Thais need only one more to meet their ambition of
\nromping home with 15 gold medals.<\/p>",
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