Top athletes pouring into Jakarta for Bob Hasan meet

JAKARTA (JP): American sprinter Dennis Mitchell was among the world-class athletes who arrived here yesterday for Saturday's second Bob Hasan invitational track and field meet.

Mitchell is currently the world number nine in the men's 100m. His 1994 best time, 9.94 seconds, places him nine hundredths of a second behind his compatriot, world record holder Leroy Burrell. Burrell, who clocked the world's fastest time of 9.85, is due to compete at an Olympic warm-up meet May 18 in Atlanta along with Carl Lewis and Michael Marsh.

Jamaican female sprinter Juliet Cuthbert also arrived here yesterday. Both Mitchel and Cuthbert checked into the Jakarta Hilton International. They are staying at the hotel along with other athletes, coaches and officials.

Germany's world discus champion Lars Riedel is scheduled to arrive this evening.

As of yesterday, 91 athletes, 41 of whom are in the world's top 50 in their events, have confirmed their participation in the annual meet which was launched in 1994. This year's is on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Senayan Madya Stadium.

The meet is officially called the International Amateur Athletics Federation permit meet. Unlike the initial meet in 1994, it now includes world-class athletes who rank among the world's top 50, which is a mandatory requirement for organizing the permit meet.

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman is scheduled to open the competition.

If successful, the championship is expected to serve as a prelude to another track and field Grand Prix leg in Asia.

Currently, Japan is the only country in Asia which has held a IAAF-sanctioned track and field grand prix. In addition to Japan, India has also qualified to hold such grand prix. But its first ever grand prix, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on May 8, has been postponed due to parliamentary elections. (arf)