Sprinter John avoids Sidoarjo shutout

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.