Supriati eying bronze in Asian Games 10,000m<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The nation's top female distance runner,
\nSupriati Sutono, set yesterday a realistic target of winning a
\nbronze in the 10,000 meters in her Asian Games debut in December.<\/p>\n
Supriati, who chalked up meet record times in sweeping three
\ngolds in the 19th Southeast Asian Games here last year, said she
\npreferred not to shoot for overly lofty goals because of the
\nstiff opposition from the continent's best runners.<\/p>\n
The Army sergeant most recently clocked 33 minutes 43.41
\nseconds in the 10,000 to finish fifth in the Asian Championships
\nin Fukuoka, Japan, last month. It beat her SEA Games record of
\n34:02.26.<\/p>\n
\"Based on my performance in the Asian meet, I think my biggest
\nopportunity to win a medal will come in the 10,000,\" she said
\nduring national track and field simulation races at the Senayan
\nMadya Stadium.<\/p>\n
Supriati ran a lackluster 34:28.26 to win the 10,000m
\nyesterday, and complained later of the absence of a serious
\nchallenge to push her to a faster time.<\/p>\n
In the 5,000, she clocked 16:11.80, a shade off her personal
\nbest of 16:11.60 set in last year's SEA Games.<\/p>\n
Supriati will also try her luck in the 5,000 and 1,500 at the
\nupcoming Asiad, although she admitted her medal winning prospects
\nwere remote.<\/p>\n
\"It's difficult for me to beat Chinese and Japanese athletes
\nwho usually run faster than me in the two events.\"<\/p>\n
Supriati looks almost certain to be the only track and field
\nathlete to don the national colors in December's Asian Games in
\nBangkok.<\/p>\n
\"My major personal target is to improve my records. Running in
\nthree events at such a major competition as the Asiad alone is
\nvery burdensome,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Supriati said a nagging ankle injury she sustained during
\ntraining in Pengalengan, West Java, just before leaving for
\nFukuoka could dash her dreams of winning a medal.<\/p>\n
\"It still hurts me and I'm still traumatized when I'm
\nrunning,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Separately, the Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association's
\nsecretary-general, Barmawi Chaidir, said he hoped that the sports
\ncouncil would allow the association to send more athletes to the
\nAsiad.<\/p>\n
\"Host Thailand is expecting as many Indonesian track and field
\nathletes as possible. I believe there are some athletes other
\nthan Supriati who deserve the chance,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Chaidir named women's walker Tersiana as a possibility.<\/p>\n
The association will send the two athletes and probably others
\nto the Singapore Open championships from Sept. 4 to Sept. 6.
\n(yan)<\/p>",
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