World silver medalist set for Indonesia Open

JAKARTA (JP): American world championship silver medalist Andre Cason is expected to run the 100m race at the Indonesia Open track and field invitational meet slated for July 30 at the Madya Senayan stadium.

Cason, fresh from his European grand prix tours last week, is the only big name included in the entrants' list of 39, released by the organizers of the one day event yesterday.

With Asia's fastest runner Talal Mansoor of Qatar giving the toughest challenge, the American looks set to win the sprint. Cason clocked 10.04 seconds behind compatriot champion Dennis Mitchell in the world grand prix meet in Stockholm last week.

Mansoor, Asian Games gold medalist and the continent's record holder with 10.22, becomes the strongest contender to topple Cason if he manages to regain his form which earned him his personal best of 10.14 he set in Budapest last year.

The Indonesian challenge will be led by Southeast Asian Games three-time winner Mardi Lestari and national second best Mohammad Khodik Juntasi. Mardi has never repeated his feat of 1987 when he dashed to an Asian record of 10.24.

In the women's sprint, former Asia's track queen Lydia da Vega-Mercado of the Philippines is tipped to meet Flirtisha Harris of the United States, Sachiko Kiso and Indonesians Rita Pettipellohi and Nitja Duran.

The invitational meet, which will contest eight men's and women's events, is jointly held by the Indonesian Track and Field Association (PASI) and the Asian Amateur Athletic Association (AAAA), both led by timber tycoon Mohammad "Bob" Hasan.

Meanwhile, PASI will resume its Java-Bali track and field circuit in Yogyakarta this weekend. Athletes from six provinces throughout Java and Bali plus Lampung, Jambi, South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan have confirmed their entries at the two-day meet staged at Mandala Krida stadium.

Central Java, overall winner of the first leg here last month, is favored to retain its supremacy. (amd)