T

he Paijo sisters made a one-two finish in the 5,000 meters, but East Nusa Tenggara was still unable to match East Java's gold collection on the penultimate day of the National Track and Field Championships at Madya Stadium in Jakarta on Friday.

The 17-year-old Apriana Paijo secured victory over her 26-year-old sister Merry Paijo, after circling the 400-meter track 12 times in 18:26.95 seconds.

It was Apriana's second gold, her first coming in the 1,500 meters on Thursday.

"Yes, we are sisters, but on the track we are foes. I was determined to beat her even before the race started," Apriana said with pride.

Merry, who had won the 10,000 meters on Thursday, came in second place in 18:37.21, followed by Tetty Suastri of North Sumatra in 19:39.54.

"I was fatigued due to yesterday's race, but this loss will motivate me to improve my performance next time."

The third day of the championship featured another sibling rivalry, with West Papuan Yulius Morin topping his brother Maikel Morin in the men's javelin.

Yulius threw 67.64 meters, beating Maikel's 62.30 for second place. This leaves the national record of 75.58 meters, set by Frans Mahuse in 1991, in tact.

South Sumatran Jauhari Johan won the 5,000 meter race, reaching the finish line in 14:48.87.

"I am not quite satisfied with my time, I had expected 14:40," said the 26-year-old runner, whose personal best was 14:35 at the 2003 SEA Games in Vietnam.

"I did not have many tryouts before the championships," said Johan, who won two golds at the 2008 National Games in East Kalimantan.

A sore heel didn't stop Daryanti from Yogyakarta going unchallenged in the women's 800 meters, running home in 2:18.12, followed by Ester Sumah of East Java in 2:20.05. However, the 43-year-old Ester still holds the national record of 2:06.11.

"I'm a bit surprised I can win as I currently have injuries on both of my heels," said the 21-year-old Daryanti.

West Java took gold in the men's 800-meters with Abdul Harris clocking in at 1:56.68.

Victory in the men's shot put belonged to North Maluku's M. Naser Pelasury, who threw 13.27 meters, followed by Papuan Vincen Gebse's throw of 13.04 meters and West Javan Nugrahanto's 12.91 meters.