Eduardus Nabunome still enjoys his golden years

Eduardus Nabunome still enjoys his golden years

By Ivy Susanti

SURABAYA (JP): National men's marathon runner Eduardus
Nabunome remained fastest on the track, netting his second gold
medal for Jakarta on Tuesday in the men's five kilometers run at
the 15th National Games (PON) at Delta stadium in Sidoarjo.

The 35-year-old runner, who has taken part in PON five times
since 1989, clocked 14 minutes and 54.09 seconds. I Gusti Gede
Karang Asem of West Java narrowly trailed in second place with
14:54.63 while Ferry Junaidi of Central Java was third in
15:00.32.

Host East Java is securing its domination in the medals
standings after collecting 110 gold, 85 silver and 82 bronze
medals. Defending champion Jakarta has only a slight chance of
taking over the top position after earning a total of 84 golds,
62 silvers and 71 bronzes. West Java was third with 59 gold, 68
silver and 79 bronze medals.

Eduardus, who also won gold in the men's marathon on Sunday,
was second in the final lap but managed to sprint in the last 10
meters to the finish line to claim victory.

He said his race was not merely about power, rather maturity
and experience.

"I had nothing to lose. If one of my junior teammates had won,
it would have meant their time had come," he said.

Eduardus said he had not been too zealous in winning the race
but after running for two kilometers he was sure of finishing in
the event.

"After four kilometers, I felt more comfortable with myself. I
estimated that I would win the race as I was in the top three. At
the perfect moment I went past Karang Asem and he seemed to be
unprepared."

Eduardus will still have to run in the men's 10 km on
Thursday.

More PON records were shattered at the track but no national
record were set.

Zulkarnaen Purba of North Sumatra clocked 51.84 in the men's
400m hurdles and broke the PON record of 52.49 set by Herman Tadu
Balagaize of Irian Jaya in 1993.

"I'm very proud of winning the gold today. I'm the first
runner of the new generation from North Sumatra who has won a
gold in the track after Mardi's success more than 10 years ago.
I'm very grateful to God," he said.

Zulkarnaen was referring to Mardi Lestari of North Sumatra,
dubbed "the fastest man in Asia" in the 1980s.

"I had mounting motivation to win this event, because the
North Sumatra authority promised me a bonus and job," he added.

M. Asyik of East Java took silver after clocking 52.95 and
Ikin Ruhuddin of West Java was third in 53.10.

Darwati of East Java clocked 49:58.53 in the women's 10 km
walk, breaking the PON record of 52:06.71 set by Hasiati Lawole
of Jakarta in 1989. Tersiana Riwu Rohi of East Nusa Tenggara was
second with 50:37.33 while Hasiati came in third at 51:29.70.

Ni Ketut Mudiani of Bali also set a new PON record in the
women's javelin event after throwing 47.70m. The old record of
46.70m was set by Tati Ratnaningsih of West Java. Tati herself
was third with 44.46m while the silver went to Velomina Basik-
Basik of Irian, who threw 45.07m.

Jakartans earned three golds in the bodybuilding event, from
Aan Palma in the 60 kg division, Didit Supriyanto in the 70 kg
class and from Ade Rai in the 85 kg and above division.

East Java earned two more golds after its men's and women's
volleyball teams defeated West Java teams at the Petrokimia
Sports Hall in Gresik.

Medals Standings (as of 9:00 p.m.)

Provinces G S B
East Java 111 85 83
Jakarta 86 63 71
West Java 60 69 80
Central Java 34 45 51
Lampung 20 20 25
Jambi 14 8 12
North Sumatra 11 9 15
East Kalimantan 11 8 15
South Kalimantan 10 8 8
South Sulawesi 9 11 15
Irian Jaya 9 11 14
Bali 8 7 12
North Sulawesi 7 9 16
Yogyakarta 6 11 19
South Sumatra 5 14 14
Southeast Sulawesi 5 1 5
Riau 4 8 12
West Kalimantan 4 8 7
Maluku 4 3 5
Central Kalimantan 2 9 11
East Nusa Tenggara 1 4 5
Bengkulu 1 3 3
Central Sulawesi 1 1 2
West Nusa Tenggara 1 - 2
West Sumatra - 3 4
Aceh - 1 9