World silver medalist set for Indonesia Open

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)