Sprinter Irene may miss SEA Games 2001

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian women's sprinter Irene Truitje Joseph's participation in the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games is in jeopardy because of a heart problem she experienced while competing in the National Athletics Championships.

"I can't give you any comment except to say that she has to rest while waiting for Saturday's examination to check her heart," the secretary-general of the Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association, Tigor Tanjung, said on the sidelines of the championships at Madya Stadium in the Bung Karno Sports Complex on Tuesday.

"We must also wait for the results of her examination to evaluate her chance of competing in the Kuala Lumpur 2001 Southeast Asian Games."

Irene was examined at the Harapan Kita Cardiac Hospital on Monday after experiencing heart problems after finishing the 400- meter event. She was reported to have a blood pressure reading of 130/40.

A medical team recommended that Irene not compete in the 400- meter event and concentrate only on the 100 meters and 200 meters after detecting a small defect in her heart.

As for the National Athletics Championships, Irene, the 100- meter champion at the 1999 Brunei SEA Games, will be unable to continue her domination in her favorite discipline, the 200-meter dash, on Wednesday.

"I feel good and have never had any serious health problems, but I will follow the recommendation. What can I do?" said the disappointed Irene.

Irene's coach Pieter Noya said he had yet to receive any recommendations from the medical team.

"I was never informed of Irene's condition and that's why I fielded her in the 400-meter event. I don't know whether she will take part in the SEA Games. You should ask the medical team for further confirmation," he said.

At the championships on Tuesday, new national records were set in the men's 20,000-meter walk, the men's high jump and the women's hammer throw.

Kristian L. Tobing of West Java, who is training for the Sept. 8 to Sept. 17 SEA Games, clocked a time of one hour, 32 minutes and 50 seconds in the men's 20,000m walk, cutting the old record of 1:33.19 set by Sutrisno of Central Java on Aug. 22, 1997.

The newly introduced women's hammer throw, which will be featured for the first time in the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, saw champion Yurita Ariani of Jakarta and runner-up Nia Meilani of West Java break the record of 46.56 meters set by Yurita earlier this year.

Yurita broke her own record with a throw of 50.39 meters on her third attempt, while Nia exceeded the record with a throw of 47.07 meters on her fifth attempt.

"I was aiming for a distance of 48 meters but I reached 50 meters. I will keep trying to improve my performance and I hope to throw over 51 meters," said Yurita, who is looking to capture gold at the SEA Games.

Men's high jumper Aria Yuniawan of West Nusa Tenggara leaped 2.08 meters to break his own national record of 2.06 meters. (nvn)