Supriati expected to qualify for Olympics

Supriati expected to qualify for Olympics

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian women's long distance runner Supriati
Sutono is expected to qualify for the Olympic Games in Sydney in
September in the Asian Track and Field Championships late August
at the Senayan Madya Stadium.

The Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association (PASI) secretary
general Tigor Tanjung told reporters Tuesday that Supriati is
expected to qualify in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters events.

However, he was pessimistic about the chances of women's
triple jumper I Nyoman Rae Trisandiana and men's pole vaulter
Nunung Jayadi.

"Both athletes' personal bests are still far from the Olympics
B limit qualification," he said.

Supriati, whose best time in the 5,000m was 15:54.45 set in
the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, is close to the Olympics B limit
time of 15:55.00.

After a long struggle to recover from a foot injury, Supriati
managed to come back on track at the 15th National Games (PON) in
Surabaya last May by winning three golds in her favorite
disciplines of 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m.

Meanwhile Nunung Jayadi, who set a new national record in PON,
must jump at least 5.45 meters. His personal best, which is also
the new record, is 5.10m.

Nyoman, whose best performance of 13.42 meters was achieved at
the 1999 Southeast Asian Games in Brunei Darussalam, still needs
to work on her jump as the B limit is 13.95m.

"We have qualified six sprinters for the Olympics. If Supriati
can qualify it means we will have successfully qualified seven of
the nine athletes being groomed in our long-term training
program," Tigor said.

Indonesia has qualified Irene Truitje Joseph in the women's
200m (B limit); Yanes Raubaba, Erwin Heru Santoso and John Murray
in the men's 100m (A limit); and the men's 4x100m relay team --
comprising Yanes, Erwin, John, Subakir and substitute Sukari (B
limit).

Tigor said PASI has been considering sending Supriati to
compete in Europe, probably Germany, prior to the Asian
championships.

The championships will serve as the final qualifying round
before the deadline for the entry forms naming participating
athletes set by the International Amateur Athletics Federation
(IAAF) on Sept. 11.

"We have submitted the names of Supriati, Nyoman and Nunung in
the names' entry form list to the National Sports Council which
will submit the list to the Sydney Olympic Games Organizing
Committee at the latest on Aug. 25," he said.

"But the three names are listed subject to the qualifying
round in the Asian championships." (yan)