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.