Ruwiyati eyes SEA Games as her next event

JAKARTA (JP): After winning the women's division at the 10th Singapore International Marathon on Sunday, Indonesian marathoner Ruwiyati expressed her hope of performing at the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur.

"I'm not sure if I will join the SEA Games squad but I am preparing myself for it. I want to run in the event. My coach and the Indonesian Amateur Athletic Association (PASI) will decide about my participation," she said on Monday.

The 23-year-old student at the School of Law at Darul Ulum University in Ungaran, Central Java, finished Sunday's marathon in two hours, 53 minutes and 11 seconds to claim first place.

Ruwiyati won SEA Games gold in 1995 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and 1997 in Jakarta. The 1999 Games in Brunei did not include the marathon.

Despite her success in Singapore, Ruwiyati failed to meet her personal best of 2:34:00, which she set at the 1995 Games.

She also ran slower than she did at the 2000 National Games (PON) in Surabaya in June, where she won the gold medal in a time of 2:50:50.

"The weather was so hot and the route was quite difficult for me because the ground was rather slanting," she said about the race in Singapore.

Ruwiyati also said she hoped PASI would allow her to train in her hometown of Salatiga, Central Java, where she works out with local club Lokomotif.

"If PASI doesn't mind, I want to train in Salatiga because I feel more comfortable there. I can stay close to my family and I have no problems with the weather," said the eldest of four children.

Coach Alwi Mugiyanto said he was sure that Ruwiyati could contribute a gold medal at the SEA Games.

"She will meet tough rivals from Singapore and Malaysia but I'm sure she can earn gold. I think Indonesia is still the most powerful in the long-distance events among Southeast Asian countries. In Asia, I think we are still in the top five," he said.

Ruwiyati finished fifth at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok.

Alwi also said he would not decide for Ruwiyati where she would train. "I won't oppose PASI's decision. I also won't force my athlete to stay in Salatiga or o somewhere else. The athletes will decide for themselves."

PASI secretary-general Tigor M. Tanjung said the association had agreed to stage decentralized training programs in several provinces where the athletes reside.

"The most important thing is that we can watch the training easily and the clubs or the provinces can provide suitable facilities for the athletes," he said. (ivy)