SEA Games sprint queen seeks training in United States<\/p>\n
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (JP): Irene Truitje Joseph was lauded on
\nSunday after becoming the country's first runner to win the
\nwomen's 100-meter dash at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.<\/p>\n
Irene's heroic effort turned the tables on pre-race favorite
\nand world number 13 Trecia Robert of Thailand. The Thai was also
\nseeking to end her country's 12 year wait for the fastest woman
\nof the region title long held by the Philippines.<\/p>\n
Irene ran 11.56 seconds, slicing Henny Maspaetella's 14-year-
\nold national record by 11 hundredths of a second.<\/p>\n
There was a victory celebration on the pitch, with Indonesian
\nofficials and journalists cheering on the new sports heroine.
\nNational Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar was
\namong the jubilant supporters.<\/p>\n
\"I'm very happy,\" Irene said as she fielded a barrage of
\nquestions from Indonesian journalists.<\/p>\n
Irene, the youngest of eight children, was born in Waipirit,
\nEast Nusa Tenggara, on Oct. 14, 1981. She started to run on the
\ntrack in the third grade of elementary school.<\/p>\n
Her father Max Joseph and mother Yuliana encouraged their
\ndaughter. In 1994 Irene was admitted to the national training
\ncenter in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Irene said the Sunday newspapers had reported that Thailand
\nwas poised to win the gold.<\/p>\n
\"That news motivated me to fight it out. I was sure I could do
\nthe same.\"<\/p>\n
Irene now is eying more prestigious honors, particularly the
\nAsian Games gold medal.<\/p>\n
\"I want to follow in the footstep of Kak (big sister) Supriati
\n(Sutono).\" Supriati earned Indonesia its second Asian Games track
\nand field gold medal in Bangkok last year. The first gold was won
\nby Muhammad Sarengat in 1962.<\/p>\n
Irene said she was hoping the Indonesian Amateur Athletics
\nAssociation (PASI) would give her a chance to undergo an overseas
\nstint in Houston in the United States.<\/p>\n
PASI sent some athletes to Houston prior to the 1997 SEA
\nGames. They trained at the Tom Telez camp for nine months. Telez
\nis the coach of former Olympic gold medalist and living track
\nlegend Carl Lewis.<\/p>\n
Irene, a student at Mustopo University in South Jakarta,
\nlisted her hobbies as singing, traveling and listening to music.<\/p>\n
Asked whether she had a special friend, Irene said she did not
\nwant to have a boyfriend who might pose a hurdle to her career.<\/p>\n
\"He must be able to support my career. Otherwise, it's better
\nfor me not to have a boyfriend.\"<\/p>\n
She attributed her success partly to her motto: \"discipline,
\nhard work and prayer is a must.\" (yan)<\/p>",
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