Sukraj, Rae set new records in track and field simulation

JAKARTA (JP): Two new national records put an eleventh-hour spark into the final day of an otherwise lackluster track and field simulation at the Senayan Madya Stadium yesterday.

Sukraj Singh of North Sumatra snapped a string of disappointing performances with a throw of 16.46 meters in the men's shot put. His effort measured 36 centimeters longer than the national best he held for only a few months.

Mediocre showings dominated the two-day competition which boasted 147 athletes from 19 provinces.

Women's triple jumper Ni Nyoman Rae of South Sumatra achieved the other record-breaking feat when she leaped 13.18 meters to better the national record of 12.83 meters she set in the Philippines Open in June.

Tersiana Ruwi Rohi could have completed a third in the 10,000m race walk. She timed 46 minutes 57.01 seconds, more than one minute faster than her record clocked last year. But organizers of the competition disqualified the time because Tersiana was competing against male competitors.

Barmawi Chaidir, the Indonesian Amateur Athletics Federation's secretary-general, said Tersiana competed against men to spur her to walk faster.

Chaidir said Tersiana should qualify for the 13th Asian Games in December following her superb performance.

"We just helped her improve her time in an official competition as required by the National Sports Council," Chaidir said.

The council will only allow track and field athletes who have realistic chances of taking at least a bronze to go to the Asiad. So far, only women's middle- and long-distance runner Supriati Sutono, triple gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games last year, meets the requirement.

Chaidir said he would suggest the sports council pick Tersiana along with Supriati.

The federation will send Supriyati and Tersiana to the Singapore Open from Sept. 4 to Sept. 6 as another trial before competing in the Asiad.

Also yesterday, Supriyati was awarded a Rp 2 million (US$160) cash bonus for breaking national 3,000m and 10,000m records in her recent Asian outings.

She clocked 9:30.01 over 3,000m at the Philippines Open in Manila in June and ran a new national record of 33:43.47 in the 10,000 at the Asian Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, last month.

Rae received Rp 1 million for setting her short-lived record at the Philippines Open in Manila in June.

On the same occasion, the International Amateur Athletics Federation granted certificates to veteran athletes Poedyastoeti and Tinneke Matulessy for their dedication to national sport's development. (yan)