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)