Nilani registers her second-fastest timing

Sri Lanka 3000m Steeplechase champion Nilani Rathnayaka performed admirably well in the special trial (named ‘Steeple Chase and Long Jump Challenge’) held at the Diyagama track today (19^th)

Rathnayaka registered her second-best ever timing as she completed the race in 9:46.39 minutes. This is also Sri Lanka’s second-best ever timing as she holds the National Record of 9.40.24min which she clocked in the 2022 National Championship.

This special trial was organized to provide an opportunity for the premier Sri Lankan athletes who are on the cusp of qualifying for the 2022 World Athletics Championship. Nilani Rathnayaka, Sarangi Silva and Gayanthika Abeyratne are the athletes who are currently within the qualification quota for World Championship (plus Yupun Abeykoon) but haven’t secured their spot.

Since there is another week before the cutoff date of qualification, other athletes could sneak into the qualification quota at the expense of the above-mentioned athletes.

With this performance by Rathnayaka, her average performance score in the “Road to Oregon” rankings will increase by 1 point (1184 to 1185) but won’t change her rankings as of today (38)

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s 800m champion Gayanthika Abeyratne also competed in today’s competition and registered a timing of 2.03.38min. Similarly, her average performance score in the “Road to Oregon” rankings will increase by 4 points (1156 to 1160) but won’t change her rankings (45).

Unfortunately, Sarangi Silva (Long Jump) couldn’t participate in this competition.

Results – Steeple Chase and Long Jump Challenge

Long Jump Men

1.Shreshan Dananjaya 7.66m

2.WIK Piyasiri 7.04m

3.UD Yeshan Kumara 7.00m

3000m SC Women

1.Nilani Rathnayake 9:46.39sec

2.A Priyathesha 13:16.60sec

3000m SC Men

1. HMS Karunarathna 9:25.65sec
2. ABN Alwis 9:26.61sec
3. MATD Samarasinghe 9:26.85sec

800m Women

Gayanthika Abeyratna 2:03.38sec