Nabunome, Ruwiyati win marathon golds
JAKARTA (JP): The last day of competition mirrored the previous seven. Indonesia dominated but slipped up occasionally, taking five of the nine golds on offer in running, cycling, karate and shooting.
As the sun was still struggling to pierce through the early morning haze, local athletes Eduardus Nabunome and Ruwiyati won the men's and women's marathons, clocking 2:20.27 and 2:46.19 respectively. These were Indonesia's seventh and eighth track and field golds.
The father of a three-year-old, popularly called Edu, shattered compatriot Suyono Bejo Atmojo's Chiang Mai SEA Games record of 2:21.02 in the 42-kilometer race.
He said he won the gold medal because he was supported by Suyono, who ran to block other runners.
"Other runners probably thought that Suyono, the defending champion, was the one they should be most aware of so they concentrated on his pace."
Suyono came only fifth. Roy Vence of the Philippines took the silver and his compatriot Allan Ballester the bronze.
Ruwiyati became slightly hysterical after winning her race and started sucking the thumb of her coach, Alwi Mugianto.
Sunisa Pechpongorai of Thailand took the silver and Singapore's Liang Toh So the bronze.
Indonesia also took both downhill mountain biking golds, the first time the event had been contested in the SEA Games, courtesy of Sugianto Setiawan in the men's event and Risa Susanty in the women's competition.
In addition to shooting, the only other sport still in progress was karate. Indonesia and Malaysia shared the final two classes, local athlete Christine Gani beat Filipina Maricar Rimando in the women's individual kumite open weight and Malaysia's Arivalagan Ponniyah beat compatriot Muniandy Rajoo in the men's event.
Christine's medal was Indonesia's 14th of the competition. The 21-year-old business school student, who dedicated the victory to her late father, was very modest afterward.
"I'm not here for the medals, my aim was just do the best for my country," she said.
Shooting was the sport where Indonesia, quite literally was off target, going home without any medals at all. (team)