11 junior athletes qualify for PON

11 junior athletes qualify for PON

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Juwono
Sudarson attended on Tuesday the second day of the National
Junior Athletics Championships at the Senayan Madya Stadium, but
he did not see any records tumble.

Nonetheless, 11 juniors have secured places at the 15th
National Games (PON) to be held next year in Surabaya, after they
met PON qualifications at the championships.

The athletes were Yolanda Worsiwari of Irian Jaya (girls 200m
dash), Orpa Ayeri of Irian Jaya (girls 400m dash), Sri
Pujilestari of Central Java (girls shot put), Sulastry of Central
Java (girls shot put), Dwi Ratnawati of Central Java (girls shot
put), Wiwik Suryani of East Java (girls long jump), Felix Lahar
Buana of East Java (boys high jump), Avianti of Central Java
(girls 10,000m walk), Mery Takoy of East Nusa Tenggara (girls
10,000m walk), Vira Milawati of Central Java (girls 10,000m walk)
and Risa Wijayanti of Central Java (girls 10,000m walk).

Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association (PASI) secretary-
general Barmawi Chaidir said: "I'm glad to see our young
athletes' achievements at the championships. Hopefully in two or
four years, they will be able to replace their seniors at the SEA
Games."

Juwono said the Ministry of Education and Culture had prepared
a strategy to train university students at campuses.

"Unfortunately, only three campuses -- the University of
Indonesia, the Bandung Institute of Technology and the Surabaya
Institute of Technology -- have international standard
facilities."

Juwono said he would discuss with the National Sports Council
(KONI) and the ministry's director general of out of school
education, youths and sports on a system to reward athletes who
were also studying.

"There are three options. The first is scholarships, then
insurance and the last is a cash bonus. I think scholarships and
insurance will help athletes who are also students for long-term
training."

Yolanda won the girls 200 meter dash in 24.92 seconds and
qualified for PON which has a maximum time of 26.00. In second
place was Deisy Sumigar of North Sulawesi in 26.12 seconds, while
in third place was Hermahayu of Central Java with 26.32 seconds.

Orpa met the PON limit time after clocking 59.39 seconds in
the 400 meters event. Maryati of West Nusa Tenggara finished
second with 1:00.17, followed by Endang Kusmiati of East Java
with 1:01.07.

Felix qualified for PON after he jumped 1.90 meters, 0.05m
higher than the standard. Adi Putra Rema of West Java finished
second with 1.80m, followed by I Made Suta Atmaja of Bali with
1.70m.

Wiwik jumped 5.40 meters to qualify for PON, which has a
standard of 5.20 meters. Milla Karmila of West Java was in second
place with 5.13m, trailed by Sriwahyu of South Sulawesi with
5.07m.

All winners in girls shot put qualified for PON, which has a
limit of 10.50 meters. Sri won the gold in 11.15m, Sulastry took
the silver in 10.90m and Dwi earned the bronze in 10.84m.

All four top ranked girls in the 10,000m walk also met the PON
standard of 58 minutes. Avianti won the gold after clocking
53:52.77, followed by Mery in 56:27.20, Vira in 56:40.55 and Risa
in 56:58.08. (yan)