Jakarta track and field meet kicks off with poor start

Jakarta track and field meet kicks off with poor start

JAKARTA (JP): Madya Senayan stadium was home to some poor
performances on the first day of the Indonesian Open track and
field championships yesterday.

However, East Javanese women's runner Ester Sumah stole a bit
of the thunder when she managed to take the bronze in the 800m
race.

National record holder Ester displayed an encouraging
experience, as she hotly pursued three Australian rivals in the
last 100 meters. Cheering home fans boosted the SEA Games gold
medalist to deny the Australians a clean sweep. Ester nipped
Narelle Parr by 13 hundredths of a second.

"It was not easy to compete against Australians," Ester told
The Jakarta Post after the race. "Their physiques give them an
advantage," the 26-year-old added.

Ester who set a national record of 2:06.11 at last year's
Southeast Asian Games in Singapore, said she could have sharpened
her best time if she had spent three months instead of only one
month at her training center in Surabaya.

First place Melissa Baker who ran 2:08.29 said her Indonesian
competitors were "good but a little slower." Melissa, whose best
time is four seconds faster, added she was not in her top form
since she did not train during the winter, her favorite training
period.

Sluggish performances also dominated the women's long jump
final. National record holder Rabaiya of South Sulawesi, whose
5.76m leap in her second attempt was enough for the win.

Sri Retno of Yogyakarta managed a best of 4.10m.

The mediocrity continued as Singaporean sprinter Muhammad
Hosni, winner of the Singapore Open, won the first heat of 100m
men in a slow 10.94 seconds, below unheralded Yanes Roubaba of
Irian Jaya who raced 10.72 seconds to take the second heat.

In the men's javelin, national record holder Frans Mahuse,
grabbed the title with 70.8m, but again, this was still below his
career best throw of 75.58m.

In the pole vault, Australian Robrest Hill and Brett Styles
reached 5.1m and 4.8m, respectively, to overshadow national
record holder Nirman K. Rampai who vaulted 4m.

Australia's winning run continued in the men's hammer as
Marthen Albion took the gold with a 60.88m throw.

Thirteen gold medals are up for grabs today, with the national
men's 4X100m relay team expected to entertain their victory-
lusting home fans. (arf)

Medals tally

G S B
Australia 4 2 -
West Java 1 2 -
Central Java 1 1 2
South Sulawesi 1 - 1
E. Nusa Tenggara 1 - -
West Kalimantan 1 - -