Indonesia rationalizes track-and-field golds

By Ivy Susanti

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's ambition to regain eight golds from the track in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam next month will likely remain a dream as the organizing committee will not feature the country's favorite disciplines.

The Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association (PASI) secretary- general, Barmawi Chaidir, said several sports -- men's and women's marathon, women's pole vault and women's discus -- which were Indonesia's favorites, would not be featured at the event.

"Unfortunately, the host country will not stage these disciplines although we thought we could steal some golds in them."

Indonesia won two golds from a marathon two years ago, thanks to Eduardus Nabunome and Ruwiyati. Eduardus will run in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters this time around, but Ruwiyati will skip the event due to her studies at a private university in Ungaran, Central Java.

Indonesia won eight golds, eight silvers and 13 bronzes last time. Top position was Malaysia with 16 golds, seven silvers and five bronzes followed by Thailand with 15 golds, 19 silvers and seven bronzes.

A PASI official in technical commission, Paulus Lay, said Indonesia would be able to win only five of the 41 golds at stake.

"It would be a miracle if we can steal another one to make it six gold medals," he said.

The five golds will likely come from Supriati Sutono, Ester Sumah and Nunung Jayadi. Another one is expected to come from young starlet sprinter Irene Truitje Joseph.

Supriati, the 1998 Asian Games gold medalist, will compete in the 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m disciplines. The Army sergeant made an incredible performance two years ago by winning all three disciplines and breaking three national records.

Unfortunately, Supriati has yet to reach her top form as she only clocked 16:49.00 in a two-day simulation at the Senayan Madya stadium on April 30. She failed to perform in the second simulation on July 2 due to a light injury in her right thigh.

However, PASI is optimistic that Supriati, who will compete in the World Championships in Sevilla, Spain, after the Games, will be able to run at the biennial event from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15. She is expected to run below 15 minutes and 30 seconds in the 5,000m to qualify for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Teammate Ester Sumah, who won the gold in the women's 800m in 1997 by clocking 2:06.72, is another gold medalist hope for Indonesia.

Meanwhile 33-year-old Eduardus, nicknamed Edo, has to switch from the marathon to the 5,000m and 10,000m to be able to join the squad.

Two years ago, Edo earned a silver in the 10,000m and a gold in a marathon. Second best Antonius Fallo followed in Edo's steps to contribute a bronze in the 10,000m event.

Men's pole vaulter Nunung won a silver in 1997 by jumping 4.60m. The gold went to teammate Handiarsin Oslan who jumped 4.80m. Nunung is a new hope to win a gold this year after he managed to jump 5.00m. The 21-year-old athlete vowed to set a new record of 5.20m in the Games.

Young sprinter Irene will be a threat to Malaysian Shanti Govindasamy as she managed to improve her personal best three times in four months.

She broke the 18-year-old national record in the women's 200m by clocking 23.82 seconds on April 30. The old record of 24.24 seconds was set by Henny Maspaitella in Manila in 1981.

Since then Irene has sharpened her personal best to 23.82 seconds early this month.

But coach Pieter Noya said Irene must run below 23.60 if she wants to beat Govindasamy.

With only 11 athletes in the track and field squad, Indonesia will likely remain in third place on the track after Malaysia and Thailand.

Long-term training at the Senayan Madya stadium for sprinters and field events and at the Pengalengan tea plantation in West Java for middle and long distance runners was proof that PASI made serious preparations for the biennial event. Hopefully, Indonesia will be able to have new stars emerge from the Games.

Athletics team members

Men: Subakir (100m, 4x100m), Yanis Raubaba (200m, 4x100m), Wisnu Nugroho (4x100m, long jump substitute), Johanes Murray (100m, 400m, 4x100m), Mahmud Hamzah (100m, 4x100m), Eduardus Nabunome (5,000m, 10,000m), Antonius Fallo (5,000m, 10,000m), Sutrisno (20,000m walk), Handiarsin Oslan (pole vault), Nunung Jayadi (pole vault), Ong Kok Hin (hammer throw), Sukhraj Singh (shot put) and Ponsianus Kahol (javelin throw).

Women: Irene Truitje Joseph (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Dedeh Erawati (100m hurdles, 4x100m), Yolanda Wongso (200m, 4x100m, 4x400m), Santi Nelwan (100m hurdles, 4x100m, 4x400m), Atin Saputro (400m, 4x100m, 4x400m), Yanti Saputro (400m, 4x400m), Ester Sumah (800m, 4x400m), Supiati (2100m, 4x100m), Ani Suprapti (10,000m walk), Supriyati Sutono (1,500m, 5,000m, 10,000m) and Ni Nyoman Rae Trisandiana (long jump).