Six athletes qualify for SEAG training program

JAKARTA (JP): The Track and Field Grand Prix and National Junior Championships opened on Wednesday at Senayan Madya Stadium with impressive performances by a number of athletes.

Six athletes qualified for the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games long-term training program of the Indonesian Amateur Athletic Association.

Women's hammer thrower Roseherlinda of Jakarta became the only junior athlete to qualify for the training program with a toss of 44.72 meters. She surpassed the A standard of 43.00m.

Vivit Yeti Wulanda of East Java finished second in the event with a heave of 32.86m, while Fiddina Mediola of Jakarta came in third with a throw of 32.30m.

In the Grand Prix, senior hammer throwers Nia Meilani of West Java and Yurita Ariani of Jakarta qualified for the training program with tosses of 45.90m and 44.85m, respectively.

Third-place finisher Kusmiati of Central Java failed to qualify with her throw of 38.49m.

In the men's 400m event, Novian Suhendra of South Sumatra qualified with a time of 48.78 seconds, 0.28 seconds behind the A qualifying time. Novian was the gold medalist in the same event at the National Games in June.

East Javanese sprinters Imam Syafei and Agus Widodo finished in second and third place, respectively. Imam finished in 50.96 while Agus clocked a time of 51.62.

Rising star Irene Truitje Joseph of Maluku failed to qualify for the training program in the 400m dash event. The young sprinter, who took part in the 100m dash in the Sydney Olympics in September, clocked a time of 56.67 seconds, failing to meet the B time limit of 56.20. However, the 400m is not her main discipline.

Veteran sprinter Ester Sumah of East Java finished second with a time of 57.50, and Yatin Saputro of Central Java secured third place with her time of 57.53.

Women's middle-distance runner Olivia Sadi of East Nusa Tenggara also will join the training program. She won the 1,500m in a time of 4:32.28. The B time limit for the event is 4:38.00.

Rini Budiarti of Yogyakarta also qualified with a time of 4:37.62.

The Grand Prix, which is being held at the same time as the National Junior meet, will run through Saturday. (ivy)