Sprinter John making up for lost time

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Some wrote off sprinter John Herman Muray, who turned 27 on June 1, as an also-ran when it came to international competition.

The Papuan, who only took up running six years ago, is letting his legs do the talking to silence the doubters.

He is enjoying the best form of his career in the 100 meters; he recently won two legs of the three-stop Asian Grand Prix -- in Sidoarjo, East Java, as a wildcard entry and in Songkhla, Thailand.

He improved on his 10.45 seconds in Sidoarjo with a time of 10.38 in Thailand, shattering his personal best of 10.54. He was runner up in the middle leg in Singapore to Anil Kumar -- the man he narrowly beat in Sidoarjo -- but his 10.52 was his slowest race of the series.

John (his second name is often written as "Murray") had showed he was still the nation's top sprinter by taking the 100 meters in the 2004 National Games, along with two golds in 4x 100 meters and 4 x 400 meters.

He feels a fitting cap to his career would be gold in the 2005 Southeast Asia (SEA) Games in Manila from Nov. 27 to Dec. 5.

"People think 'old John' is finished," he said. "But I want to prove that they are wrong and I did it (in the Asian Grand Prix)."

"Now, I just want gold in the SEA Games and to break the national record of 10.20 in the name of Mardi Lestari."

In the 1999 SEA Games, John won silver in the 200 meters and 4x100 meters, while in the 2003 SEA Games in Hanoi, he was a model of consistency, taking bronze in the 100 meters (in a time of 10.59), 200 meters and 4x100 meters.

Born in Manokwari, John played soccer when he was a boy and later joined a local soccer club as a striker. Although he seemed set for a career in soccer, a coach recognized his talent in sprinting in 1999, when he was 21.

"It was quite boring at the beginning because I only trained and trained, but slowly I managed to adapt," said John, who still plays soccer for fun.

"In that year, I participated in my first SEA Games as a sprinter."

Unlike other athletes who find it hard to find a job to support them, John was fortunate to find a permanent position with the local Jayapura sports office in 2001.

"I have a better life than other athletes," he acknowledged.

He is the father of two daughters, Chelsea Joy Mariones, 4, and Pijung Joy Manila, 2, -- so named because John was in the Philippine capital when she was born -- from his marriage to Lenny Muray.

"With national training for the SEA Games still ongoing, my family lives in Jakarta in my older brother's house in Slipi, Central Jakarta," he said.

"If I'm not practicing, I always spend my time with them."

As well as being a family man, John is deeply religious, always sure to thank God for his success.

In Sidoarjo, when he crossed the finish line with Anil, the Indian raised his hand to indicate he believed he had won.

Meanwhile, John slumped down and prayed to God; 15 minutes later, the announcement was made that the Indonesian had won by two hundredths of a second.

"For me, without God, I'm nothing. He gave me life and He will take my life," he said. "If He wants me to win the race, it will be done."

Training, which he once found boring, is now an integral part of his plan to succeed.

"I just sharpen my technique and discuss with coaches how to improve my time."

While others take the route of doping to get the edge, John said he was taking vitamin supplements to help him improve his times.

"I wasn't taking the supplement at the Asian Grand Prix," he said. "So let's see the good effects of the vitamins in helping my times."