Below-par Yurita, Nunung win golds at athletics meet

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

National athletes Yurita Ariani and Nunung Jayadi were unchallenged in their respective fields on the penultimate day of the National Track and Field Championships, in which South Sumatra took over at the top with a total of four golds.

Both Yurita and Nunung earned the Jakarta team gold medals in the women's hammer throw and men's pole vault. However, their performances were still below their best.

Yurita managed only 51.20 meters. Her national record of 53.67 meters was recorded last year.

Nunung recorded 4.90 meters, which was far below his national record of 5.13 meters. Jakarta has collected three golds and stays in second place behind leader South Sumatra.

Meanwhile, female pole vaulter Ni Putu Desy Margawati helped South Sumatra to one of three golds on the day for a total of four.

Desy beat Sundari and Alia Basalamah with her vault of 3.82 meters, which was also short of her best mark of 4.10 meters.

Jauhari Johan in the men's 10,000 meters and Yan Bachtiar in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase contributed the other two golds for South Sumatra.

The third day of the four-day competition offered eight gold medals.

Papua took two through Yan Karubaba in the men's 400 meters and Rozalia Kahol in the women's shot put, while East Nusa Tenggara grabbed the last gold, thanks to Nelci Tolaik in the women's 1,500 meters.

Overnight leader Central Java could only add two silvers to stay in third place.

The tournament ends on Tuesday. High-level performances from the athletes have yet to come, for which a Rp 10 million (US$1,200) reward is offered to record breakers.