Hurdlers, Aravinda Chathuranga and Eranga Dulakshi, together with long jumper Janaka Wimalasiri, produced impressive performances while VL Sugandhi set the third Sri Lanka record of the meet in the Heptathlon at the 93rd National Athletics Championship concluded yesterday at Diyagama.
Soldier Chathuranga who returned after training from Malaysia about two months ago, had his coach Ashoka Jayasundara by his side in the last few days, who had also returned from Germany after his coaching education, and it did really pay off as the tall hurdler clocked a personal best 51.57 seconds to win the 400m hurdles men’s event.
Eranga Dulakshi who saw her 3000m steeple chase shattered on Friday, completed a rare double by winning the 400m hurdle after her 1500m triumph yesterday. Dulakshi, from Air Force and hailing from Kataragama area, went below 60 seconds mark for the first time as she clocked a personal best of 59.73 seconds to win the event.
VL Sugandhi set a new Sri Lanka record in the women’s heptathlon event as she finished with 4404 points, while second placed AN Nawodini was 795 points behind with 3609 points. Sugandhi’s performance was as follows:
100m hurdle -15.18 sec, High Jump -1.49m, Shot Put -8.22m, 200m -25.98 sec, Long Jump – 5:23m, Javelin Throw – 28.53m, 800m – 2:30.12 sec.
National record holder Manoji Amarasinghe set a new meet record with a 42.22m distance in the women’s hammer throw, as five new meet records were set in the championship along with three Sri Lanka records. Nilani Rathnayake set a new meet record in the 3000m steeple chase while Anoma Karunawansha eclipsed her own Sri Lanka record in the pole Vault (3.33m). Vidusha Lakshani set the other new meet record with a 13.30m distance in the Triple Jump women’s event.
Long Jump men’s final produced a number of impressive performances. Janaka Wimalasiri of Army won the event with a personal best jump of 7.80m which is just 0.06m behind the Sri Lanka record. Milantha Dissanayake returned to his seasonal best jump of 7.71m to be placed second, while Amila Jayasiri who equaled National record at the last National Championship, returned a seasonal best 7.57m to clinch third place.
Himasha Eashan completed a sprint double by winning the 200m with a performance of 21.41 seconds after sealing the 100m on Saturday with 10.49 seconds in the finals.
Indunil Herath produced another impressive 1 minute 49.93 seconds performance to win the 800m men’s final. Nimali Liyanarachchi won the women’s 800m finals with ease where only two competitors competed.
Sri Lanka had a brand new Javelin Champion as Waruna Lakshan, the favourite and defending champion, was beaten by his training partner Sumedha Ranasinghe with 76:51m throw while Waruna was placed second with a 76.19m throw.
Two of the identical triplets, Thakshila Karunathilaka and Wathsala Karunathilaka made it a family business in the 200m as they sealed first and second places. Thakshila clocked 25.01 seconds while Wathsala was placed second with 25.27 seconds.
Manjula Kumara was adjudged the best male athlete as well as best performer of the championship for his 2:22m jump in the men’s high jump finals in the dark, while Nilani Rathnayake was adjudged the best female athlete for her new Sri Lanka record of 10 minutes 09.49 seconds in the 3000m steeple chase.
