Irian Jaya tops in athletics meet

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)