Americans promise top showing in Bob Hasan track and field tour

JAKARTA (JP): A pair of American arrived here yesterday for the Bob Hasan track and field invitational tourney, with the promise that they would have the best performance at the one-day event.

Both men's middle-distance runner Erik Nedeau and women's triple jumper Cynthia Rhodes could not avoid expressing their guarded optimism upon their arrival here that they would conquer the Madya Senayan track.

"I need to win here. I need improve my personal record," Nedeu said, commenting on his chances in the 1,500-meters at the international meet promoted by timber baron Mohammad 'Bob' Hasan this weekend.

Barring unforeseen injuries, Nedeu, who clocked his best mark of three minutes and 38.31 seconds, will finish first at the middle-distance run. In addition to several Southeast Asian-level rivals, Nedeu will find his toughest challenge from Kazuo Harikawa who ran in his best time of 3:43.97 in Asian championships almost five years ago.

Rhodes, a Texas native, set a "modest" target of leaping four centimeters shorter than her best, 13.94 meters, which she set at the recent Penn Relays.

Other big names who arrived yesterday were Englishman Colin McKenzie who will compete in men's javelin, men's 110m hurdles runner Anthony Knight of Jamaica and men's 5,000-meter runner Gomez Cabral Alesandro of Spain.

Asian women's 100-meter hurdles number two Sriyani Kulawansa and her men's 110-meter hurdle teammate Chaminda Fonseka, the only Sri Lankans who entered Saturday's competitions, also landed yesterday.

Meanwhile, Nekia Besley, winner of women's 800-meter duel between Great Britain and the United States in Gateshead last week, was named the substitute of injury-struck American Jasmin Jones. Besley is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow with world number two sprinter Andre Cason.

Organizers are expecting 31 more visiting athletes from Myanmar, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Qatar, Chinese Taipei and the Philippines today. (amd)