The first day of the Athletic Senior national trials conducted by the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka (AASL) targeting the Asian Games 2018 concluded today(27th) at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
Athletes who are targeting a spot in the National squad for the Asian Games will take part in the trial which was attended by the cream of the Sri Lankan track and field athletes, except for the few who are missing out due to being out of the country or granted medical clearance due to injuries. A second selection trial for the pruned down athletes will be held end of May, which will be for a select few.
Vinoj Suranjaya became the headline act of day one as he managed to create the first track sprint record on the newly laid Sugathadasa track. Suranjaya ran a fabulous 20.68 secs to better the previous record of 20.69secs by Sugath Tillakaratne at the 1998 Bangkok Asia Games. Himasha Eshan had to satisfied with a second placed finish while Dilip Ruwan was placed third.
In the women’s 200m Sri Lanka’s fastest female sprinter, Rumeshika Rathanayake finished first with an unimpressive time of 23.98 despite winning the final comfortably. MASS Jayathilake came second clocking 25.16 while SL Vidurangawas placed third with a time of 25.38secs.
Long Jumper Danushka Sandaruwa was a fraction short of 8 in the Men’s Long jump managing to record a best leap of 7.99m. Airman Amila Jayasiri was in good rhythm managing to hit 7.93 in his best leap. H G Sampath was placed third measuring 7.84m. In the Women’s Competition, Anjani Puluwansa justified her selection for the Thailand open impressing with a leap of 6.09m to secure the top spot in the competition. Ridma Nishadi was placed second while C M Thilakaratne was placed third in the final.
Disappointing outing for the vaulting duo
Pole Vaulting duo Anitha Jegathiswaran and Ishara Sandaruwan, who have been raising the bar consistently in the Women’s and Men’s pole vaulting events respectively, had a day to forget as they failed to impress with below par shows in their standards. National Champion and record holder in the evet having cleared 5.11m, Airman Ishara Sandaruwan, failed to clear the starting height of 4.60m he chose at the event in his three attempts and had to bow out of the competition unceremoniously. Airmen R K K Balasooriya won the event clearing 4.50m while KACP Senarathne and AC Fernando finished in the second and the third places respectively.
Jaffna’s vaulting queen Anitha Jegathiswaran who renewed her own national record clearing 3.55m in the event at the beginning of the week competing in the Girls U23 Pole Vault event at the Junior National Championship only managed to clear a disappointing 3.30m. Anitha who was struggling with a wound she has suffered on her feet during the junior nationals, seemed to be in pain during her jumps and should have retired from the competition without trying to aggravate it even further. It was not a very smart move to make her compete today since her record breaking performance would have been considered if she had informed the AASL of her injury. KLSK Perera of Sri Lanka Army was placed second in the trial with a performance of 3.10 while Anitha’s cousin Herina Chanthirakumar was placed third in the event with a personal best of 3.10m.
A I S Ranasinghe of Sri Lanka Army clocked 14.52 in the Women’s 100m hurdles to take the top spot ahead of HWK Hapuarachchi and PR Gunathilaka who finished in the second and the third place respectively. In the Men’s 110m hurdles it was W S Randeewa who was first to the finish line clocking 14.75 ahead of KPH Nirmal – 14.79 and Jagath Rajapakshe – 15.21.
FULL RESULTS OF SENIOR NATIONAL TRAILS – DAY 01
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