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 - -