Jauhari sprints to 5,000m victory
Moch N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Palembang
Jauhari Johan won the men's 5,000 meters as the South Sumatra team doubled its pleasure on the third day of the track and field competition at the National Games here on Wednesday.
Jauhari won the race in 14:58.69, which was his second gold following his victory in the 10,000 meters on Monday.
Musiamin of East Java finished in second in 14:59.33, followed by Agus Prayono of Central Java in 15:08.48.
Ni Putu Desi won the other gold for the hosts in the women's long jump, which was also her second victory. She produced her first victory in the pole vault on Monday.
Her jump of 5.78 meters was eight centimeters better than silver medalist Rini Susanti of West Java and 18 centimeters better than bronze medalist Kustia Martini also from West Java.
In front of scores of home fans at the Jakabaring track and field, Jauhari trailed most of the race before sprinting in the last 100 meters to overtake Musiamin.
"I was just trying to keep the pace with Musiamin as I was still exhausted after the 10,000 meters on Monday," he said while still catching his breath.
"In the last 500 meters, I had difficulty breathing, but I convinced myself that on my home track, I must win," he said.
Papua also brought home two golds, thanks to Enos Furima in the men's 400-meter hurdles and Santi Nelwan in the women's heptathlon.
Furima shrugged off Zulkarnaen Purba's rivalry to finish first in 52.46 seconds. Zulkarnaen of North Sumatra followed in second place in 52.82 seconds with Franciscus of West Nusa Tenggara in third in 52.85 seconds.
Santi scored 4,202 to win the heptathlon followed by Rosmita with 4,088 and Sunartun with 4,088.
West Java, which emerged as the best gold winner in 2000 but was suffering a drought, finally struck its first, courtesy of Setyo Nugrahanto.
Setyo won the men's shot put after registering the best throw of 14.45 meters, leaving Central Java duo of Kanan and M. Sodik in second and third place with their throw of 14.10 meters and 14.09 meters, respectively.
Aceh, East Kalimantan and West Nusa Tenggara shared the other three golds.
In the women's 5,000 meters, Trianingsih of Central Java defeated Olympian Supriati Sutono of West Java in a time of 17:06.70 seconds.
Supriati, who ran at the Athens Olympics, struggled in second place in 17:09.20 seconds and Rini Budiarti of Central Java finished in third in 17:26.00.
"I know that my kick is not really good, therefore I tried to take the lead from the beginning. It worked," Trianingsih said.
Supriati said she was still suffering from a foot injury, which she got in the Athens Olympic Games.
"I still feel pain in my foot," she said briefly after the match.
Tati Ratnaningsih won the women's javelin gold for Aceh. She tossed it 40.89 meters. Katarina Samkakai of Papua recorded a throw of 38.30 meters to take the silver and Dian Kartika of Central Java 38.07 meters for the bronze.
Lina Febrisari triumphed in the women's 400-meter hurdles by clocking the best time of 62.07 seconds for East Kalimantan while Arya Yuniawan won the high jump for West Nusa Tenggara with his jump of 2.01 meters.
Men's and women's 100-meter dash preliminaries were held later on Wednesday and the finals will be on Thursday.