Americans promise top showing in Bob Hasan track and field tour
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)