Sprinter John avoids Sidoarjo shutout
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Sidoarjo, East Java
John Herman Muray saved face for the hosts on Saturday by taking the prestigious 100 meters sprint in a photo-finish at the Asian Grand Prix 2005.
As his teammates finished as also-rans behind their Asian peers at Sidoarjo Stadium, John won in 10.45 seconds, ahead of Indians Anil Kumar (10.47) and Kamar Piyush (10.56).
"I still can't believe I won," he told reporters after his victory. "Thank God I did."
All the sprinters were even in the first few meters, before John and Anil pulled away to make it a two-man race.
They crossed the finish line together, with Anil confidently raising his arms. John slumped to his knees and prayed.
It took an agonizing 15 minutes before the organizing committee declared the 27-year-old Papuan the winner, earning him US$2,500 prize money.
John, the 2003 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games bronze medalist in the sprint, said he felt awkward only moments before the race started.
"I was nervous but I managed to concentrate after I started running."
He said his time on the night was slower than in recent practices.
"I can run 10.36, so my time now is a bit slower," he said, blaming a sluggish start.
Athletics Association of Indonesia (PASI) secretary-general Tigor Tandjung said John's win boded well for the country's chances in track and field at the 2005 SEA Games in Manila in November.
Tigor said John's top finish also allowed him to compete in the two remaining legs of the Asian Grand Prix in Singapore and Bangkok.
Indonesian 110-meter hurdler Eddy Zakaria, the only other local runner eligible for all three legs in the series, finished a disappointing sixth with a time of 14.24 seconds, far behind Wu Youjia of China (13.55) and close rival Suphan Wongsriphuck of Thailand, who was third (14.02).
Tatiana Borisova of Kyrgyzstan won the women's 1,500 meters in 4:13.59, while Sunita Rani of India, making a comeback after a two-year injury hiatus, was third in 4:20.51.
In the women's 100 meters, Uzbekistan's Guzel Khubbieva won in 11.45, followed by compatriot Lyubov Perepelova and India's Tomar Poonam.
In the 400 meters, Kumar Rohan Pradeep of Sri Lanka won with a time of 46.19 seconds.