Nazmizan, Klomdee fastest runners in Vietnam
The Jakarta Post, Hanoi
Nazmizan Muhammad of Malaysia and Thai Orranut Klomdee proved to be the fastest runners in the men's and women's 100-meter sprints at the SEA Games, when Indonesia's athletes succumbed to their opponents at the My Dinh Stadium here on Sunday.
Nazmizan clocked the best time of 10.48 seconds in the men's category to beat Sittichai Suwonprateep of Thailand and John Herman Muray of Indonesia. The time was 0.22 seconds later than the SEA Games record of 10.26 seconds set by Reanchai Seeharwong of Thailand, in 2001 in Kuala Lumpur.
Klomdee improved her form in the Games by taking the gold after finishing in 11.51 seconds to lead a one-two finish, with teammate Jutamass Tawoncharoen finishing in 11.55 seconds. Vu Thi Huong of Vietnam was in third in 11.59 seconds.
Two years ago, Klomdee took the silver after losing to compatriot Supavadee Khaw Peag.
However, the time was far behind the 16-year-old SEA Games record created by Filippino Lidya de Vega at 11.28 seconds in Jakarta.
Thailand was also triumphant in the women's triple jump with Wacharee Rittiwat registering 13.44 meters. The result was slightly worse than the SEA Games record of 13.46 meters that she created two years ago.
Singapore rose in the women's shot put, after its athletes topped the two finishers. Du Xianhui, who beat teammate Zhang Guirong, set up a new SEA Games record of 18.20 meters. The old mark was 17.25 meters.
Buenavista Eduardo of the Philippines was the only other record breaker in the men's 10,000 meters with his best time of 29 minutes and 19.62 seconds.
Besides John Herman Muray, all other national athletes bowed out in the track and field competitions.
Irene Truitje Joseph, the 1999 SEA Games gold medalist in Brunei Darussalam, flopped far behind with teammate Supiati in the women's 100 meters, as they only finished sixth and seventh respectively.
So did Jauhari Johan in the men's 10,000 meters.
"We are not disappointed with the results as we had known beforehand that we were not going to be well placed," team manager Tigor Tanjung told The Jakarta Post. Indonesia only had competitors in three finals on Sunday.
"We predicted Irene's medal chance in the women's 4x100 meters, she was expected to help the team win the medal," he commented on the athlete who was a double-gold medalist in 100m and 200m in 1999.
Track and field offers 45 gold medals, the most among 32 sports contested. Monday's program will offer nine golds and Indonesian athletes have secured entries in the finals.