Irian Jaya tops in athletics meet
JAKARTA (JP): Irian Jaya topped the medal standings in the national track and field championships at Senayan Madya Stadium on Monday after the province collected 11 golds, nine silvers and seven bronzes.
Team manager HH Fabanyo told a news conference that the results were better than expected.
"We only aimed to win 10 golds but luckily we managed to steal the gold in the men's 1,500 meters with Luis Nusi. We have prepared our athletes for two years and the Irian Jaya administration totally supported us," said Fabanyo, who is also chairman of his province's chapter of the National Sports Council (KONI).
He declined to mention the amount of the budget spent by the administration.
Irian Jaya, which sent 42 athletes, 15 coaches and three officials in the championships, is targeting to increase its medal haul in the 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya next year.
"With this satisfying result, I believe we can boost our athletes' performance to do better in PON. We'll reopen the training center in the first week of January to groom them for about six months in the center," Fabanyo said.
Irian Jaya sealed its victory in the men's 4x400m relay with its anchor Onesimus Windesi edging East Java's Imam Syafei. Irian clocked 3:15.82 for the gold, with East Java second in 3:16.25.
Onesimus, who was quickly swamped by his teammates, needed medical assistance after suffering respiratory problems.
Fabanyo said Irian Jaya considered East Java, Central Java and West Java would be its toughest rivals in PON.
East Java finished in second with eight golds, 10 silvers and nine bronzes, followed by Central Java with five golds, six silvers and seven bronzes.
National women's sprinter Irene Truitje Joseph of Maluku failed to perform her best in the 200 meters with a time of 24.09 seconds, far beyond her personal best and national record of 23.92.
"I injured both legs competing in the 400m yesterday but I forced myself to run today as I had promised Maluku to contribute gold medals," she said in the medical room.
In the women's triple jump, Nyoman Rae Trisandiana of South Sumatra said she was not fully prepared for the championships due to her mid-term exams.
Although Nyoman took the gold with a jump of 13.01 meters, it was far off her personal best of 13.42. Ira Soselisa of East Java was second with 12.25 and Catur Sari Dewi of Central Java was third with 11.88.
Nyoman said she would try to meet the qualification requirement of 13.85 for the 2000 Olympics by competing in the Asian Championships here on Aug. 3 to Aug. 5. (yan)