Three records shattered at regional athletics meet
Three records shattered at regional athletics meet
JAKARTA (JP): Three records were broken on the first day of
the 20th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) schools
track and field championship at the Senayan Madya stadium here
yesterday.
Two of the records were produced by middle-distance runner Tri
Asih Handayani and pole-vaulter Nunung Jayadi, both of Indonesia.
The third came from javelin thrower Wichit Homtuanlom of
defending champion Thailand, which still reigned supreme with six
gold, six silver and six bronze medals.
Indonesia was in second place, with just one bronze medal less
than Thailand. Malaysia was in the third place, with four gold,
four silver and five bronze medals. The Philippines yesterday
earned one silver medal and one bronze medal, Singapore one gold
medal with Brunei Darussalam receiving no medals in the
championship, officially called the MILO ASEAN Schools
Championship.
Tri Asih clocked 4 minutes 29.9 seconds in the girl's 1,500m
to shift the old mark of 4:35.63 set by Jiravan Choome of
Thailand in 1994. Tri Asih also bettered her own national junior
record of 4:30.67 which she achieved on June 8 at the same
stadium.
The other gold Tri Asih won yesterday was in the girl's 800m,
by clocking 2:13.33.
Nunung Jayadi, despite his imperfectly healed left knee
injury, vaulted 4.55 meters to better his ASEAN school record of
4.25m achieved last year. However, Nunung failed to better the
national junior record of 4.60m he set at the Philippine Open in
Manila in May.
Chairman of the Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association
Mohammad (Bob) Hasan said the two record breakers will be awarded
scholarships so that they can finish their studies for free.
Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, who
opened and acts as the patron for the championship, said they
will be given certificates recognizing their performances as a
token of appreciation.
On the other hand, Thailand's team manager Sombat Roongruang
said that Wichit, whose record-breaking throw of 66.30m was far
better than silver medalist Gino Ariwibowo of Indonesia (who
threw 51.18m) will not be given any award. Wichit studies in a
government-sponsored sports school in Suphanburi, a town 110km
west of Bangkok. He is already on a government scholarship,
Sombat explained. Moreover, his throw was still below the throws
of his seniors -- Worrasit, Kongdet and Riengchai -- which
averaged about 70m, Sombat added. (arf)