Record-breaking turnout for 10K run
Record-breaking turnout for 10K run
The Jakarta Post, Bandung/Medan/Makassar
Thousands turned out in seven cities nationwide on Sunday for
a 10-kilometer run intended to help put the country back on track
for development.
The event, sponsored by an energy drink manufacturer, was
touted as a symbolic opportunity for citizens to show they would
do their best in their respective fields as Indonesia prepares to
mark its 60th independence anniversary on Aug. 17.
For Linda Indriyani, one of about 6,900 participants in
Bandung, it was all about being counted among her fellow
citizens.
The 43 year old trained in her wheelchair over the past two
weeks at a local stadium to be able to take part.
"I'm very proud that, despite being old, I could play a part
in setting a record, even if it was in a wheelchair," she said.
She was part of the cross-section of people -- professional
runners and weekend warriors, young and old, able bodied and
those with disabilities -- who showed up in Denpasar, Makassar,
Magelang near the Borobudur temple, Surabaya, Bandung, Palembang
and Medan.
There were open, student and Armed Forces/Police categories in
all seven cities, with Bali also hosting an "elite runner" race.
The Indonesian Records Museum verified that the event reached
its target of 77,000 runners. However, some runners may have been
more interested in the post-run entertainment -- performances by
groups such as Dewa (Bali), Jamrud (Bandung) and Godbless
(Palembang) -- than supporting a lofty goal or setting a record.
In Makassar, organizers had increased registration to 16,000
from the designated 15,000 runners, but there was no mad dash at
the start at 7 a.m. on Sunday.
Many participants instead watched the start of the race in the
other cities on a live broadcast on TV screens at the venue. It
took a few minutes before the trickle of runners grew into a flow
as they were persuaded to run.
In Medan, two high school students ran off with the top honors
among about 7,000 runners.
Mariyusuf Gulo, 19, who is from Nias regency, won the open
men's race, while 17-year-old Nyai Prima Agita Siregar took the
open women's title.
Both runners, who are in the North Sumatra athletics training
program but had never won a title, said they would use their
prize money of Rp 7.5 million for school.
In Denpasar, national runners Jauhari Johan from Palembang and
Trianingsih from Central Java won the elite runners' categories.
Organizers estimated 25,000 runners competed, below the target of
27,000 for Bali.
Various door prizes, including a car, were offered to runners,
Antara reported.
Runners from Salatiga, Central Java, dominated the day in
Magelang, with Faizin, winning the boys' student category, Witari
taking the girls' student top honor and Zoes Morgan the winner in
the men's open race.
Zoes was followed by fellow Salatigan Yuni Sulistyanto. The
women's open winner was hometown favorite Siti Muawanah, Antara
said.
The Jakarta Post, Bandung/Medan/Makassar
Thousands turned out in seven cities nationwide on Sunday for
a 10-kilometer run intended to help put the country back on track
for development.
The event, sponsored by an energy drink manufacturer, was
touted as a symbolic opportunity for citizens to show they would
do their best in their respective fields as Indonesia prepares to
mark its 60th independence anniversary on Aug. 17.
For Linda Indriyani, one of about 6,900 participants in
Bandung, it was all about being counted among her fellow
citizens.
The 43 year old trained in her wheelchair over the past two
weeks at a local stadium to be able to take part.
"I'm very proud that, despite being old, I could play a part
in setting a record, even if it was in a wheelchair," she said.
She was part of the cross-section of people -- professional
runners and weekend warriors, young and old, able bodied and
those with disabilities -- who showed up in Denpasar, Makassar,
Magelang near the Borobudur temple, Surabaya, Bandung, Palembang
and Medan.
There were open, student and Armed Forces/Police categories in
all seven cities, with Bali also hosting an "elite runner" race.
The Indonesian Records Museum verified that the event reached
its target of 77,000 runners. However, some runners may have been
more interested in the post-run entertainment -- performances by
groups such as Dewa (Bali), Jamrud (Bandung) and Godbless
(Palembang) -- than supporting a lofty goal or setting a record.
In Makassar, organizers had increased registration to 16,000
from the designated 15,000 runners, but there was no mad dash at
the start at 7 a.m. on Sunday.
Many participants instead watched the start of the race in the
other cities on a live broadcast on TV screens at the venue. It
took a few minutes before the trickle of runners grew into a flow
as they were persuaded to run.
In Medan, two high school students ran off with the top honors
among about 7,000 runners.
Mariyusuf Gulo, 19, who is from Nias regency, won the open
men's race, while 17-year-old Nyai Prima Agita Siregar took the
open women's title.
Both runners, who are in the North Sumatra athletics training
program but had never won a title, said they would use their
prize money of Rp 7.5 million for school.
In Denpasar, national runners Jauhari Johan from Palembang and
Trianingsih from Central Java won the elite runners' categories.
Organizers estimated 25,000 runners competed, below the target of
27,000 for Bali.
Various door prizes, including a car, were offered to runners,
Antara reported.
Runners from Salatiga, Central Java, dominated the day in
Magelang, with Faizin, winning the boys' student category, Witari
taking the girls' student top honor and Zoes Morgan the winner in
the men's open race.
Zoes was followed by fellow Salatigan Yuni Sulistyanto. The
women's open winner was hometown favorite Siti Muawanah, Antara
said.