Athletes looking beyond National 5k Championships

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 05/19/2008 11:51 AM | Sports

Jauhari Johan of South Sumatra and Triyaningsih of Central Java were the fastest runners in the Sports Station National 5k Championships here on Sunday.

Johan clocked a 14 minutes 51 seconds win. Trailing in second and third places were Yahuza of East Kalimantan, who came in at 14'55" and Agus Prayoga of Central Java at 15'12".

Johan said he was happy that he could win the championship.

"Most top national runners are in their top form ahead of the National Games. I had to struggle hard to beat them," said the gold medalist of the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand (late last year), referring to the Games slated for July in East Kalimantan.

He said that he was glad he could improve his performance and would use the event to set better times in the Jakarta 10k run, next month.

"After that (Jakarta 10k), I will focus on being the best at the National Games," he said.

Johan's best time on track is 14'12".

In the women's division, Triyaningsih improved her personal record of 16'37" which she had set at last year's run, clocking a new record of 16'24".

The second and third finishes went to East Kalimantan athletes Rini Budiarti and Veri Subnafeu, who timed 16'33" and 17'00", respectively.

Trianingsih said she faced tough competition with her rivals during the run.

"I am proud to come first and set a new record," said the holder of two SEA Games gold medals in the 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter events.

She hoped the National 5k Championships would serve as a warm-up before competing in the National Games and Olympics Games in Beijing in August.

"I hope I can pass the minimum 15'22" threshold to qualify in the 5,000m in Beijing," she told reporters.

Indonesian Athletics Association (PASI) secretary general Tigor Tanjung said he hoped Triyaningsih could qualify for the Olympics.

"We still have time to select runners before the July 23 deadline," he said.

The association, he said, would monitor the performance of national athletes during the National Games and at an international event in Taiwan before picking runners to represent Indonesia in Beijing. (ewd)

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