Two Games records broken on opening day of track and field

By Emmy Fitri and Meidyatama Suryodiningrat

JAKARTA (JP): The 19th SEA Games track and field got off to superb start yesterday with an Indonesian and a Malaysian each breaking long-standing meet records.

Of the seven golds up for grabs Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia bagged two each, leaving the remaining gold for track favorite Thailand.

The Indonesian record-breaker was Supriati Sutono, who broke a ten-year-old mark in the 5,000m. She crossed the line fighting off a spirited challenge from Chinese-born Malaysian Yu Fang Yuan.

Supriati shaved over 30 seconds off the old record of 16minutes 42.31seconds, set by Myanmar's Khin Khin Htwe. After crossing the line in 16:11.6 she collapsed in jubilant exhaustion.

Mynmar's Mar Win Win took the bronze.

In the men's javelin, Indonesia's Fredericus Mahuse, took the gold ten years after his elder brother Frans, won the same event.

However his 71.62m failed to beat his brother's record of 75.38m, set in the Jakarta SEA Games in 1987.

"This is my big day because I took the first gold medal from the field events today and I'm very proud," he said. "Yes, yes I am happy," added the 33-year-old father of two.

Silver went to Malaysia's Mohammad Yazid Imran who threw 71.38 meters, with Thailand's Thirdsak Boonjansri a distant third with 67.16 meters.

Another record-breaker was Malaysia's Nur Herman Majid who confertably won the men's 110m hurdles in 14.09. Silver went to Songpon Sangmark from Thailand and bronze to Indonesia's Rusli Muhammad.

Majid's time broke his own SEA Games record of 14.15 set in Manila in 1991.

Malaysia's second gold came in the disappointing high jump event. None of the four athletes contending were on top form and the competition quickly fizzled out as they failed to shine in the Madya Senayan stadium.

Reigning champion Kum Zee Loo, 22, as expected, walked off with the gold without hardly breaking a sweat. He was only able to clear 2.10m, far below his SEA Games record of 2.24.

Indonesia's two contenders failed to break two meters, while Thailand's Ma Sathianchokwisa cleared 2.00 meters to take silver.

Begeo

The 3,000m steeplechase went to an old timer Hector Begeo of the Philippines, who beat Aries Y. Bareira, 26, of Indonesia and Jirasak Suthichat, 20, to win the gold.

Begeo has been southeast Asia's leading steeplchaser even since setting the Games record of 8:55.85 in 1991.

Another senior who took gold yesterday was Filipina Elma Posadas who leaped to the gold medal podium with a jump of 6.45m in the long jump.

Being married and with one child has not shortened her leaping ambitions. While still using her maiden name of Muros, Elma set the games record of 6.52 meters in 1989.

"It was just luck," the 30-year-old jumper remarked humbly. "I'm so old now."

Her younger competitors could probably use some of her luck as silver medalist Va Nguyen Thi Bich, 22, of Vietnam only leaped a "mediocre" 6.29m and bronze medalist Lerma El Balauitan, 22, 6.26m.

Thailand, which is heavily favored to take up to half of the track and field golds, could only win event yesterday through Wunsawan Sawusdee in the shot put.

He finished up with a throw of 16.33m, followed by Sukhraj Singh of Indonesia at 15.78m and Chee Wee Lim of Brunei at 15.26m.