Muray and Suryo advance to 100 meters final

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Manila

John Herman Muray, in the best form of his career the age of 27, sped through the 100 meters sprint semifinals on Sunday as track and field got underway at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The Papuan will not be alone in the final, with compatriot Suryo Agung Wibowo also qualifying.

John clocked 10.65 seconds -- outside his bronze-medal winning time of 10.59 from Vietnam two years ago -- while in the earlier heat, Suryo finished first with 10.57.

Backed by a special supplement program from the Indonesian Athletics Association, Muray won two events of the three-stop 2005 Asian Grand Prix -- in Sidoarjo, East Java, as a wildcard entry, and in Songkhla, Thailand

He broke his personal best of 10.54 with a time of 10.45 in Sidoarjo, and shattered that with 10.38 in Thailand.

"Hopefully, I can push myself out front in the finals," John said.

The Indonesians are locked in a tight rivalry with the Thai duo of Sompote Suwannarangsri and Wachara Sondee. Both had second place finishes in their respective semifinals.

"I can't say anything about their chances yet because the other runners may not have stretched themselves during the heats," national athletics team official Tigor Tanjung said.

Indonesia also has the chance to win medals in the women's 100 meters, with Supiati and Deysie Sumigar each finishing third in their semifinals.

No Indonesian athletes were in contention for the first three gold medals handed out from track and field's 45 on offer.

The Philippines romped to a one-two finish in the long jump final, thanks to Marestella Torres (6.47 meters) and Lerma Elmira Gabito (6.45).

But a couple of record-breaking performances in the high jump and pole vault grabbed the attention the day.

Bui Thi Nhong bettered the eight-year-old Games high jump mark of 1.88 set by Achalach Kerdchang of Thailand, clearing the bar at 1.89 meters.

Rosalinda Samsu of Malaysia overcame a light drizzle at the stadium to win gold in the pole vault at a height of 4.10 meters, eclipsing the old mark of 3.95 set by Indonesia's Ni Putu Desy at the 2003 Games.

Samsu, who cleared the bar on her first attempt, was a bronze medalist in the same event in Vietnam,

Vietnam's Le Thi Phuong, who finished with a height of 4.00, took silver and Sunika Kao-iad of Thailand the bronze at 3.60.

Heats were also held in the men's 800 meters, men's and women's 400 meters, men's and women's 110 meters hurdles.