Success for Solidarity Run for Bali

President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Sukarnoputri opened Bali 10K Solidarity Run for Bali on Sunday, 2 February 2003, at the road junction of By Pass Ngurah Rai - Danau Tempe Sanur, setting off 17,000 runners from all over the world, including Indonesians. Among the participants, 23 international top athletes came from Kenya, South Africa, Japan, Australia, Tanzania, and Europe. The run went through the streets of By Pass Ngurah Rai and Simpang Siur to finish at Kuta Square. Three Kenyans, respectively John Korier and Sammy Kiprouto, and Leah Memeli Malot topped the list of winners in their group categories.
Participants consisted of International elite category of male and female runners, general category of male and female athletes, and a student category also of male and female participants. They raced for prize money of a total of $10,000 for international runners, and of Rp15 million for national winners in an event related to tourism business restoration arranged in the spirit of “Bali for the World” following Bali’s October Bomb Tragedy, the Bali 10-K Organizing Committee Coordinator, Michael Sumarjanto, said to media.
Sumarjanto said, Bali 10K is just one of the programs designed to encourage the international public that Bali as a tourist destination remains safe for visitors after the tragedy. It was a little difficult to overcome the red tape of government travel warnings, however, athletes such as John Korier, Sammy Kiprouto, Benita Johnson still came to join the competition. They agreed that Bali really is safe for visitors.

The Oldest and the Youngest Runners
There were two Bali 10K participants, one the oldest while the other the youngest, encouraged along the way by a very sportive audience. The two runners were Housta (75) from the Netherlands, and Tacha, a boy (4 ) from Solo, Central Java. Tacha’s father encouraged his son in running from start to finish. The reason for Tacha’s ability to finish the run is because he has been running since the age of two. Housta, is fond of running as his hobby. (poll/bud)

Benita Johnson Came to Win

Australian female runner Benita Johnson (24) won the Bali 10K Solidarity Run for Bali, with a time record of 31 minutes 39 second, better than her previous record which was 31:46. She beat three female runners from Kenya and one runner from South Africa. As the winner, she received US$ 10,000, awarded to her by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, on Sunday (2/2) in Kuta.
Her win in the Bali 10K was a special one. “Today, Sunday, is my wedding anniversary,” said Benita who came to Bali for the first time. Her husband Cameron Johnson, who gave special motivation for Benita to take part in the championship, accompanied her.
Benita Johnson felt that she received great support from spectators who urged her on the way. “Their support gave me energy and was part of my success,” Benita told reporters in Kuta. According to Benita, the weather was a little bit humid, but good conditions made it possible for her to run fast, to beat elite runners from hot countries like Kenya.
Bali 10K was held as part of the Bali recovery program to restore positive and safe images of Bali after the October blast. The victorious Australian runner is hoped to spread a positive message of Bali to Australian societies, so that they may keen to visit Bali again. (dp)

Komang Budiartha: Thanks to All

Local committee member of Bali 10K, A Solidarity Run for Bali, thanked all Balinese and sponsors who enthusiastically supported the success of the event. “I feel great. The general public not only watched and joined in the run, but also enthusiastically supported the activities from the beginning to the end,” said N. Budiartha,S.E., the chairman of the local committee and chief of Indonesian Amateur Athletic Association, Bali Branch.
According to Budiartha, 17 thousand runners took part in Bali 10K. Initially, the committee targeted 15 thousand runners at the very maximum, but it turned out to attract more than that. “Aged runners as well as young all took part in the event. I’m so surprised with their participation,” said Budiartha.
Budiartha was most satisfied with the participation of so many runners from Australia. Australia put travel warnings out to their citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to Indonesia including Bali, actually allowed their athletes to join the Bali 10K. “As we saw, a female Australian runner came first. This is good for the runner, but also good for promotion of Bali’s tourism industry that Bali is safe,” Budiartha added.
Budiartha predicted that the event on Sunday was watched by more than 100 thousand people along the route, from Sanur to Kuta area. “So, it is time for me on behalf of the committee to thank the Balinese public for making the run happen so smoothly,” he said.
Also, Budiartha wanted to thank sponsors from the tourism industry and banking community who provided hundreds of souvenirs. “We received 110 vouchers from hotels and other tourism companies. We gave them away to winners and participants of the Bali 10K,” said Komang Budiartha. (dp)

Following is the list of Bali 10K competition winners in respective categories with their times in minutes :

International Category
Men:

1. John Korier, Kenya, (No. 00013), Time: 28:32
2. Sammy Kiprouto, Kenya,(No. 00015), Time: 29:04
3. Abraham Kiprotich, Kenya (No. 00016), Time: 29:10
4. Teruto Ozaki, Japan (No. 00010), Time 29:11
5. Fabian Joseph, Tanzania, (No. 00018), Time: 29:31

Women:

1. Benita Johnson, Australia, (No. 00031), Time: 31:39
2. Leah Memeli Malot, Kenya, (No. 00039), Time: 32:14
3. Elana Meyer, South Africa, (No. 00042), Time: 32:17
4. Tegla Loroupe, Kenya, (No. 00040), Time: 32:42
5. Susan Jebiwot Kurui, Kenya, (No. 00041), Time: 33:18

National Categories:
Men:

1. Gede Karang Asem, West Java, (No.00005), Time 31:05
2. Agus Prayogo, Central Jawa, (No. 00006), Time: 31:06
3. Osias Kamlase, Bali, (No. 00009), Time: 31:41
4. Ferry Junaedy, Bangka Belitung, (No. 00007), Time: 32:05
5. Jauhary Johan, South Sumatera, (No. 00008), Time: 32:10

Women:

1. Debora Galaginjinai, DKI Jakarta, (No. 00036), Time: 36:00
2. Olivia Sadi, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), (No. 00035), Time: 36:04
3. Ferry Subnafeu, NTT, (No. 00034), Time: 36:18

General Categories
Men:

1. M. Faizin, Central Java, Time: 32:20
2. Wahab, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Time: 32:22
3. Sutarman, Jakarta’s Mandiri Bank, Time: 32:22

Women:

1. Triasih Handayani, Central Java, Time: 38:39
2. Helda Napitupulu, Pasi Indonesian Athletic Association of Banten (West Java); Time 39:32
3. Derni Banfatin, Jakarta’s Mandiri Bank Time:39:33

Student Categories
Men:

1. I Wayan Muliarta, SMUN (Senior High School) I – Bangli, Time 37:00
2. I Wayan Mertawan, SMUN I – Bangli, Time 37:06
3. Miguel Da Costa, Army member of Udayana IX – Denpasar, Time 37:15

Women:

1. Gusti Ayu Komang Swartini, SMUN I Selemadeg – Tabanan,
   Time: 43:31
2. Ayu Ari Ani Ni Putu, Junior High School SLTP 4, Abiansemal,
   Time 44:15
3. Kadek Suanwajuni, SMUN I, Bangli, Time: 44:18

(Bud/Poll)