Sprinter Irene may miss SEA Games 2001
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)