Sprinter John makes up for lost time<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Some had written off sprinter John Herman Muray, who turned 27
\non June 1, as an also-ran when it came to international
\ncompetition.<\/p>\n
The Papuan, who only took up running six years ago, is
\nletting his legs do the talking to silence the doubters.<\/p>\n
He is enjoying the best form of his career in the 100 meters;
\nhe recently won two legs of the three-stop Asian Grand Prix -- in
\nSidoarjo, East Java, as a wildcard entry and in Songkhla,
\nThailand.<\/p>\n
He improved on his 10.45 seconds in Sidoarjo with a time of
\n10.38 in Thailand, shattering his personal best of 10.54. He was
\nrunner up in the middle leg in Singapore to Anil Kumar -- the man
\nhe narrowly beat in Sidoarjo -- but his 10.52 was his slowest
\nrace of the series.<\/p>\n
John (his second name is often written as "Murray") had showed
\nhe was still the nation's top sprinter by taking the 100 meters
\nin the 2004 National Games, along with two golds in 4x 100 meters
\nand 4 x 400 meters.<\/p>\n
He feels a fitting cap to his career would be gold in the 2005
\nSoutheast Asia (SEA) Games in Manila from Nov. 27 to Dec. 5.<\/p>\n
"People think 'old John' is finished," he said. "But I want to
\nprove that they are wrong and I did it (in the Asian Grand
\nPrix)."<\/p>\n
"Now, I just want gold in the SEA Games and to break the
\nnational record of 10.20 in the name of Mardi Lestari."<\/p>\n
In the 1999 SEA Games, John won silver in the 200 meters and
\n4x100 meters, while in the 2003 SEA Games in Hanoi, he was a
\nmodel of consistency, taking bronze in the 100 meters (in a time
\nof 10.59), 200 meters and 4x100 meters.<\/p>\n
Born in Manokwari, John played soccer when he was a boy and
\nlater joined a local soccer club as a striker. Although he seemed
\nset for a career in soccer, a coach recognized his talent in
\nsprinting in 1999, when he was 21.<\/p>\n
"It was quite boring at the beginning because I only trained
\nand trained, but slowly I managed to adapt," said John, who still
\nplays soccer for fun.<\/p>\n
"In that year, I participated in my first SEA Games as a
\nsprinter."<\/p>\n
Unlike other athletes who find it hard to find a job to
\nsupport them, John was fortunate to find a permanent position
\nwith the local Jayapura sports office in 2001.<\/p>\n
"I have a better life than other athletes," he acknowledged.<\/p>\n
He is the father of two daughters, Chelsea Joy Mariones, 4,
\nand Pijung Joy Manila, 2, -- so named because John was in the
\nPhilippine capital when she was born -- from his marriage to
\nLenny Muray.<\/p>\n
"With national training for the SEA Games still ongoing, my
\nfamily lives in Jakarta in my older brother's house in Slipi,
\nCentral Jakarta," he said.<\/p>\n
"If I'm not practicing, I always spend my time with them."<\/p>\n
As well as being a family man, John is deeply religious.<\/p>\n
In Sidoarjo, when he crossed the finish line with Anil, the
\nIndian raised his hand to indicate he believed he had won.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, John slumped down and prayed to God; 15 minutes
\nlater, the announcement was made that the Indonesian had won by
\ntwo hundredths of a second.<\/p>\n
"For me, without God, I'm nothing. He gave me life and He will
\ntake my life," he said. "If He wants me to win the race, it will
\nbe done."<\/p>\n
Training, which he once found boring, is now an integral part
\nof his plan to succeed.<\/p>\n
"I just sharpen my technique and discuss with coaches how to
\nimprove my time."<\/p>\n
While others take the route of doping to get the edge, John
\nsaid he was taking vitamin supplements to help him improve his
\ntimes.<\/p>\n
"I wasn't taking the supplement at the Asian Grand Prix," he
\nsaid. "So let's see the good effects of the vitamins in helping
\nmy times."<\/p>",
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