East Java wins three gold on athletics opening day

East Java won three of six gold medals on offer on the opening day of the track and field competition at the National Games (PON) at Palaran Stadium in Samarinda on Monday.

Darwati won the first gold for East Java by winning the 20-kilometer walk in the morning. Lusi Febrianti and Eddy Zakaria accounted for the other two golds, in the women's high jump and men's 110-meter hurdles, respectively.

West Java, West Papua and Riau won the other three golds, while Central Java, North Sumatra, East Nusa Tenggara, Bangka Belitung and Papua all picked up silver and bronze medals.

Djoko Sudargo, chief of East Java's athletics team, expressed his pleasure with the results of the first day of the track and field competition, saying three golds was beyond their wildest expectations.

"I did not expect gold in the high jump. We were surprised that Lusi (Febriyanti) won it for us," Djoko said.

Lusi cleared 1.65 meters to finish ahead of West Java's Dewi Ika Puspita and Helam Nurul Ulfa.

In the women's 20-kilometer walk, Darwati finished in a time of one hour, 49 minutes and 33 seconds. Indonesian veteran Tersiana Riwu Rohi of East Nusa Tenggara finished in third place in a time of 1:57:55, behind Central Java's Risa Wijayanti (1:51:53).

East Java's third gold came late in the day, with Eddy Zakaria winning the men's 110-meter hurdles in 14.18 seconds. Zulkarnaen Purba of North Sumatra and Eddy's teammate, Rusli, finished second and third, respectively.

"This is the fruit of long training that started at the end of PON 2004. We are still counting on our veterans, but they were still be able to beat their younger rivals," Djoko said, adding that the team would be happy with another two medals in track and field.

A total of 46 gold medals are on offer in track and field.

In the men's 20-kilometer walk, Kristian L. Tobing of North Sumatra won in a time of 1:35:50. Sutrisno of Central Java followed in second in 1:37:51 and Andre Maulana of West Java finished third (1:37:55).

West Java's Dony Susanto won the men's long jump with a leap of 7.45 meters. Slamet Susanto of East Java and Asril of Bangka Belitung finished second and third with jumps of 7.29 and 7.18 meters, respectively.

The last gold on offer went to West Papua in the men's javelin, with Julius Morin taking the event with a throw of 67.01 meters. Agustinus Mahuse of Papua finished in second with 65.79 meters, and M. Rusmanto won bronze for Central Java with a throw of 63.80 meters.

The opening day of the track and field competition also saw preliminary heats in men's and women's 200 meters and 800 meters.

Olympic hopeful Suryo Agung Wibowo, who represents Central Java, is the favorite to win the men's 200 meters in Tuesday's final after finishing with the fastest qualifying time.

Irene Truitje Joseph, a past champ in the women's 100 meters, could only finish with the second-fastest qualifying time in the 200 meters, behind Dedeh Erawati. Both run for Jakarta.

"I'm not expecting to win the 200 meters. I'm concentrating on the 100 meters although Dedeh will still be the favorite along with Serafi (Anelis)," said the 29-year-old Irene, who is participating in her fourth PON since 1996. She won 100 meters gold at the 1999 Southeast Asian Games.