Wonder girl Supriati shines again to clinch third gold

By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat

JAKARTA (JP): Supriati Sutono was the lone local name among gold medal winners yesterday when she captured her third gold medal and SEA Games record in the 1,500 meters.

The biggest battle was fought between Thailand and Malaysia, which took seven of the eight medals in track and field.

Supriati finished in four minutes 21.5 seconds, just inside the record of 4:22.25 held by Myanmar's Htwe Khin Khin.

Malaysian Yu Fang Yuan, as in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters earlier this week, was second.

Once again, it was the Indonesian's sprinting ability which proved too much for Yuan, who was still leading at the final bell.

"Of course I'm happy, but this is also a burden for me now because I have to maintain my performance in the future," Supriati said after the race.

The Indonesian team strategy was for Supriati to set the pace for Ester Sumah. But Ester, the winner of the 800 meters earlier in the week, was unable to make the final push, finishing in fourth place.

"It's true that she was the one who was supposed to move forward, but when I saw Ester faltering I decided to go for it," Supriati said.

Indonesia ended the day with one gold, three silvers and three bronzes, but Thailand and Malaysia stamped their supremacy

Thailand picked up four golds, one silver and a bronze, while Malaysia won three golds and two silvers.

Thai men's and women's 4x100m relay teams each bettered the Games record. The men's team crossed the line in 39.37 seconds, bettering the record held by their compatriots of 39.42.

The women's team shaved three-tenths of a second from the old 44.31.

Thai decathlete Divid Yimsumruay finished the two-day event with 7,316 points, a new Games record.

"It was too hot for me but I adjusted," said the 22-year-old University of Cincinnati student who holds dual Thai-U.S. citizenship as his mother is American.

"I guess I promised the gold and had to bring it home."

The other Thai gold came in the women's 4x400m relay.

Malaysian athletes made a strong showing. Zakri Sadri won his second gold of the Games when he triumphed in the triple jump with 16.05m on his second jump.

Indonesian Sugeng Jatmiko was second with a jump of 15.97m.

The two other Malaysian golds were from Munusami Arumugam in the men's 1,500m and the 4x400m men's relay team.

Singapore's 4x100m women's relay team received the bronze medal after Vietnam was disqualified for an illegal baton exchange.

Only the men's and women's marathons are left to be decided today from the 44 track and field events.

Malaysia leads the overall medal tally in athletics with 16 golds, seven silvers and five bronzes, followed by Thailand with 15 golds, 18 silvers and seven bronzes.

Indonesia has picked up a respectable six gold medals, eight silvers and 13 bronzes. The Philippines has three gold medals and Singapore has two.