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)